2009/02/17 by Richard J. Cook, Cook, Richard J.
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #History and Developments in Astronomy #Relativity and Gravitational Theory
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0902.2811
openalex publication_date 2009/02/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We point out that, if one accepts the view that the standard second on an atomic clock is dilated at low gravitational potential (ordinary gravitational time dilation), then the standard meter must also be dilated at low gravitational potential and by the same factor (gravitational space dilation). These effects may be viewed as distortions of the time and length standards by the gravitational field, and measurements made with these distorted standards can be "corrected" by means of a conformal transformation applied to the usual spacetime metric of general relativity. The surprising feature of this single-observer picture is a substantial simplification of interpretation and formalism for numerous phenomena in a static gravitational field as compared to the conventional "many-observer" interpretation of general relativity.