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On May 20, 2025, India mourned the loss of Jayant Narlikar, one of its most celebrated astrophysicists. Narlikar was widely respected for his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics, particularly the formulation of the Hoyle-Narlikar Theory of Gravity, which he co-developed with British scientist Fred Hoyle in 1964. Their collaboration introduced pioneering concepts that expanded upon and challenged prevailing cosmological frameworks, notably Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
A Revolutionary Take On Gravity
The Hoyle-Narlikar theory aimed to integrate Mach’s principle into gravitational theory. According to Mach’s principle, the inertia of a body results from its interaction with all other mass in the universe. Although Einstein was inspired by this idea, he couldn’t fully incorporate it into his own equations. Narlikar and Hoyle went further, proposing that mass and inertia are not inherent properties, but rather emerge from the collective gravitational influence of all cosmic matter.
Interconnected Universe
One of the central assertions of the Hoyle-Narlikar model is that no object exists in isolation. Celestial bodies derive part of their gravitational properties from their interaction with others. For example, Earth’s mass is not solely its own but is influenced by other masses such as the Sun and surrounding cosmic bodies. This theory emphasized the deep interdependence within the cosmos, presenting a universe in which matter cannot exist alone.
Introduction Of Creation Field (C-field)
A major innovation in the theory was the idea of a "creation field", also known as the C-field. This theoretical field is believed to produce negative energy, which in turn facilitates the continuous creation of matter. This concept supported the steady-state theory of the universe, a model that contrasts sharply with the Big Bang hypothesis. According to the steady-state theory, the universe has always existed and will continue to do so indefinitely, with the C-field generating new hydrogen atoms to maintain a consistent density despite expansion.
Challenging Big Bang
In contrast to the Big Bang theory, which suggests the universe began about 13 billion years ago from a single point of origin, the steady-state model argued that the universe is eternal and unchanging in its large-scale properties. Narlikar and Hoyle believed that if the universe were expanding without the creation of new matter, it would appear increasingly empty. The C-field was proposed to address this issue and maintain cosmic equilibrium.
Criticism And Enduring Impact
Despite its ingenuity, the Hoyle-Narlikar theory encountered significant skepticism, especially after the discovery of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation in 1965. The CMB is seen as a key piece of evidence supporting the Big Bang model, leading most scientists to favor it over steady-state cosmology. Nevertheless, the Hoyle-Narlikar theory is still admired for its originality and its attempt to incorporate Mach’s principle into a cohesive gravitational framework.
Jayant Narlikar’s contributions remain influential in the field of cosmology, and his legacy endures through the thought-provoking theories he helped shape.
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