Physicists have made a significant breakthrough in developing a new theory that could unify gravity with the quantum world, potentially making Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity obsolete.
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland proposed a novel approach to solving the long-standing problem of uniting gravity with quantum mechanics. Their theory reformulates gravity in a way that mirrors the structure of known quantum field theories, such as electromagnetism and the strong and weak forces.
According to the new approach, gravity is mediated by four interrelated fields, similar to those governing electromagnetism. These fields respond to mass in much the same way electric and magnetic fields respond to charge and current. They also interact with each other and with the fields of the Standard Model in a way that reproduces general relativity at the classical level while allowing quantum effects to be consistently incorporated.
The new model sidesteps the mathematical problems that have historically hindered efforts to quantize general relativity, producing a well-defined quantum theory that avoids common issues like unphysical infinities and negative probabilities. This is achieved without invoking extra dimensions or exotic features required by more speculative models, such as string theory.
A key advantage of this approach is its simplicity, as it sticks to familiar terrain and does not require undetected particles or additional forces. The theory can be tested without waiting for the discovery of new particles or revising existing physical laws.
While the model remains in its early stages, researchers believe it has potential to address some of the deepest questions in gravitational physics, such as the nature of black hole singularities and the physics of the Big Bang.
However, experimental verification may prove challenging due to the weakness of gravitational interaction. Testing quantum gravity effects is currently beyond the reach of current instruments, but future experiments could potentially confirm or rule out the new proposal. Given the current pace of advancements, it could take a few decades to make the first experimental breakthroughs that provide direct evidence of quantum gravity effects.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/quantum-physics/physicists-may-be-on-their-way-to-a-theory-of-everything-after-reenvisioning-einsteins-most-famous-theory