Physics of Gravitational Interaction: Geometry of Space or Quantum Field in Space?

Abstract

Gravity theory is the basis of modern cosmological models. Thirring-Feynman's tensor field approach to gravitation is an alternative to General Relativity (GR). Though Field Gravity (FG) approach is still developing subject, it opens new understanding of gravitational interaction, stimulates novel experiments on the nature of gravity and gives possibility to construct new cosmological models in Minkowski space. According to FG, the universal gravity force is caused by exchange of gravitons - the quanta of gravity field. Energy of this field is well-defined and excludes the singularity. All classical relativistic effects are the same as in GR, though there are new effects, such as free fall of rotating bodies, scalar gravitational radiation, surface of relativistic compact bodies, which may be tested experimentally. The intrinsic scalar (spin 0) part of gravity field corresponds to "antigravity" and only together with the pure tensor (spin 2) part gives the usual Newtonian force. Laboratory and astrophysical experiments for testing new predictions of FG, will be performed in near future. In particular observations with bar and interferometric detectors, like Explorer, Nautilus, LIGO and VIRGO, will check the predicted scalar gravitational waves from supernova explosions.