2004/01/31 by Reginald T. Cahill
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.gen-ph
published as Apeiron 12 (2005) 144-177 · 21 pages, 4 eps figures. Extended published version
arxiv created 2005/04/07 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
Gravitational anomalies such as the mine/borehole g anomaly, the near-flatness of the spiral galaxy rotation-velocity curves, currently interpreted as a `dark matter' effect, the absence of that effect in ordinary elliptical galaxies, and the ongoing problems in accurately determining Newton's gravitational constant GN are explained by a generalisation of the Newtonian theory of gravity to a fluid-flow formalism with one new dimensionless constant. By analysing the borehole data this constant is shown to be the fine structure constant alpha=1/137. The spiral galaxy `dark matter' effect and the globular cluster `black hole' masses are then correctly predicted. This formalism also explains the cause of the long-standing uncertainties in GN and leads to the introduction of a fundamental gravitational constant G not = GN with value G=(6.6526 +/- 0.013)x 10-11 m3s-2kg-1. The occurrence of alpha implies that space has a quantum structure, and we have the first evidence of quantum gravity effects.