Einstein–Cartan–Evans theory

Einstein–Cartan–Evans theory or ECE theory was an attempted unified theory of physics proposed by the Welsh chemist and physicist Myron Wyn Evans (May 26, 1950 – May 2, 2019), which claimed to unify general relativity, quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. The hypothesis was largely published in the journal Foundations of Physics Letters between 2003 and 2005. Several of Evans's central claims were later shown to be mathematically incorrect and, in 2008, the new editor of Foundations of Physics, Nobel laureate Gerard 't Hooft, published an editorial note effectively retracting the journal's support for the hypothesis.

Scope

Earlier versions of the theory were called "O(3) electrodynamics". Evans claims that he is able to derive a generally covariant field equation for electromagnetism and gravity, similar to that derived by Mendel Sachs.

Evans argues that Einstein's theory of general relativity does not take into account torsion, which is included in the Einstein–Cartan theory.

In 1998 Evans founded the Alpha Institute for Advanced Studies (AIAS) to keep developing his theory. Its website collects papers on the theory and recent developments.

The theory has been used to justify the motionless electromagnetic generator, a perpetual motion machine. In July 2017, Evans claimed (on his blog): "There is immediate international interest in [papers] UFT382 and UFT383, describing the new energy from spacetime (ES) circuits. There is also great interest in UFT364, the paper that describes the circuit [...] These circuits should be [...] developed into power stations." In November 2017, Evans expanded on this point as follows (again on his blog): "There is no reasonable doubt that the vacuum (or aether or spacetime) contains a source of inexhaustible, safe and clean energy. This source can be used in patented and replicated circuits such as those of [Evans's self-published papers] UFT311, UFT364, UFT382, and UFT383."

Reception

Evans's claims are not accepted by the mainstream physics community. In an editorial note in Foundations of Physics the Nobel laureate Gerard 't Hooft discussed the "revolutionary paradigm switch in theoretical physics" promised by ECE theory. He concluded that activities in the subject "have remained limited to personal web pages and are absent from the standard electronic archives, while no reference to ECE theory can be spotted in any of the peer reviewed scientific journals".

Several of the published contributions in this theory have been shown to be mathematically incorrect. In response to these demonstrations, 't Hooft's editorial note concludes, "Taking into account the findings of Bruhn, Hehl and Obukhhov, the discussion of ECE theory in the journal Foundations of Physics will be concluded herewith unless very good arguments are presented to resume the matter."

See also

• List of topics characterized as pseudoscience

References

Books

• Evans, Myron W. (2005), Generally Covariant Unified Field Theory, Abramis, ISBN 978-1-84549-054-6
• Evans, Myron W. (2006a), Generally Covariant Unified Field Theory, II, Abramis, ISBN 978-1-84549-123-9
• Evans, Myron W. (2006b), Generally Covariant Unified Field Theory, III, Abramis, ISBN 978-1-84549-131-4
• Evans, Myron W. (2007), Generally Covariant Unified Field Theory, IV, Abramis, ISBN 978-1-84549-248-9

Selected papers

• Evans, Myron W. (2003a). "A Generally Covariant Field Equation for Gravitation and Electromagnetism". Foundations of Physics Letters. 16 (4): 369–377. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.567.5823. doi:10.1023/A:1025365826316. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 122087923.
• Evans, Myron W. (2003b). "A Generally Covariant Wave Equation for Grand Unified Field Theory" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 16 (6): 513–547. Bibcode:2003FoPhL..16..513E. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000012781.79871.c0. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 123023670.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004a). "The Equations of Grand Unified Field Theory in Terms of the Maurer-Cartan Structure Relations of Differential Geometry" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (1): 25–47. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17...25E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.598.1075. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000013002.08454.c9. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 120296666.
• Evans, M. W. (2004b). "Derivation of Dirac's Equation from the Evans Wave Equation". Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (2): 149–166. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..149E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.494.1120. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000019653.48266.23. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 35083199.
• Evans, M. W. (2004c). "Unification of Gravitational and Strong Nuclear Fields" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (3): 267–276. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..267E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.496.3769. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000032476.50820.c3. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 119701013.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004d). "Physical Optics, the Sagnac Effect, and the Aharonov-Bohm Effect in the Evans Unified Field Theory" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (4): 301–322. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..301E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.501.7942. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000035667.65301.b6. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 121374358.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004e). "Derivation of the Geometrical Phase from the Evans Phase Law of Generally Covariant Unified Field Theory" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (4): 393–401. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..393E. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000035672.99267.54. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 120957636.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004f). "The Evans Lemma of Differential Geometry" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (5): 433–455. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..433E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.527.4580. doi:10.1023/B:FOPL.0000042697.94727.22. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 122600944.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004g). "Derivation of the Evans Wave Equation from the Lagrangian and Action: Origin of the Planck Constant in General Relativity" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (6): 535–559. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..535E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.137.7626. doi:10.1007/s10702-004-0903-8. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 15545026.
• Evans, Myron W. (2004h). "Derivation of the Lorentz Boost from the Evans Wave Equation" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 17 (7): 663–676. Bibcode:2004FoPhL..17..663E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.530.5849. doi:10.1007/s10702-004-1120-1. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 120079859.
• Evans, M. W. (2005a). "The Electromagnetic Sector of the Evans Field Theory" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 18 (3): 259–273. Bibcode:2005FoPhL..18..259E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.582.8769. doi:10.1007/s10702-005-6116-y. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 120968280.
• Evans, M. W. (2005b). "New Concepts from the Evans Unified Field Theory. Part One: The Evolution of Curvature, Oscillatory Universe Without Singularity, Causal Quantum Mechanics, and General Force and Field Equations" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 18 (2): 139–155. Bibcode:2005FoPhL..18..139E. doi:10.1007/s10702-005-3958-2. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 120292990.
• Evans, M. W. (2005c). "The Spinning and Curving of Spacetime: The Electromagnetic and Gravitational Fields in the Evans Field Theory" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 18 (5): 431–454. Bibcode:2005FoPhL..18..431E. doi:10.1007/s10702-005-7535-5. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 121975917.

Criticism

• Trovon De Carvalho, A. L.; Rodrigues, W. A. (2001). "The Non Sequitur Mathematics and Physics of the "New Electrodynamics" Proposed by the AIAS Group". Random Operators and Stochastic Equations. 9 (2): 161–206. arXiv:physics/0302016. doi:10.1515/rose.2001.9.2.161. ISSN 0926-6364. MR 1832162. S2CID 2160483.
• Rodrigues, Waldyr A.; Souza, Quintino A. G. (2005). "An Ambiguous Statement Called 'Tetrad Postulate' and the Correct Field Equations Satisfied by the Tetrad Fields". International Journal of Modern Physics D. 14 (12): 2095–2150. arXiv:math-ph/0411085. Bibcode:2005IJMPD..14.2095R. doi:10.1142/S0218271805008157. ISSN 0218-2718. MR 2218579. S2CID 3065363.
• 't Hooft, Gerard (2008). "Editorial note". Foundations of Physics. 38 (1): 1–2. Bibcode:2008FoPh...38....1T. doi:10.1007/s10701-007-9187-8. ISSN 0015-9018. S2CID 189843269.
• Bruhn, Gerhard W. (2008). "On the Non-Lorentz-Invariance of M.W. Evans' O(3)-Symmetry Law". Foundations of Physics. 38 (1): 3–6. arXiv:physics/0607186. Bibcode:2008FoPh...38....3B. doi:10.1007/s10701-007-9189-6. ISSN 0015-9018. MR 2387497. S2CID 59520215.
• Hehl, Friedrich W. (2008). "An Assessment of Evans' Unified Field Theory I". Foundations of Physics. 38 (1): 7–37. arXiv:physics/0703116. Bibcode:2008FoPh...38....7H. doi:10.1007/s10701-007-9190-0. S2CID 14545770.
• Hehl, Friedrich W.; Obukhov, Yuri N. (2008). "An Assessment of Evans' Unified Field Theory II". Foundations of Physics. 38 (1): 38–46. arXiv:physics/0703117. Bibcode:2008FoPh...38...38H. doi:10.1007/s10701-007-9188-7. S2CID 119502181.
• Bruhn, Gerhard W.; Hehl, Friedrich W.; Jadczyk, Arkadiusz (2008). "Comments on "Spin Connection Resonance in Gravitational General Relativity"". Acta Phys. Pol. B. 39 (1): 51–58. arXiv:0707.4433. Bibcode:2008AcPPB..39...51B. MR 2372785.

Other

• Anastasovski, P. K.; Bearden, T. E.; Ciubotariu, C.; Coffey, W. T.; Crowell, L. B.; Evans, G. J.; Evans, M. W.; Flower, R.; Labounsky, A.; Lehnert, B.; Mészáros, M.; Molnár, P. R.; Moscicki, J. K.; Roy, S.; Vigier, J. P. (2001). "Explanation of the Motionless Electromagnetic Generator with O(3) Electrodynamics" (PDF). Foundations of Physics Letters. 14 (1): 87–94. doi:10.1023/A:1012085429802. ISSN 0894-9875. S2CID 117569957.

External links

• Alpha Institute for Advanced Study (AIAS) — Myron Evans's website
• About Dr. Evans — Myron Evans' blog
• Myron W. Evans' Most Spectacular Errors - TU Darmstadt/Mathematik