User:ErkDemon

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Hi! My name's Eric Baird, but there are a few of us online with the same name, so I usually use a more distinctive online signoff.

Disclosures[edit]

Geometry[edit]

I wrote and illustrated Alt.Fractals: An illustrated guide to fractal geometry and design . ISBN 0955706831 , and identified some new types of fractal.


Theoretical physics[edit]

I work on next-generation relativity theory, and on identifying architectural problems with the current system. Isolating mismatches in existing theory should allow our next iteration of relativity theory to be more internally consistent and more robust.

Einstein's 1916 theory is not a "pure" general theory, as it mixes aspects of flat and curved spacetime geometries. Einstein's own description of GR1916 (The Times, 1919) was that it was based on an SR foundation, where GR provided a gravitational "overlay" and SR did everything else. Einstein later critiqued his own 1916 approach in 1960 in an article in Scientific American, where he said that such an approach, while historically understandable, could no longer be objectively defended ("I do not believe it is justifiable to ask: what would physics look like without gravitation").

A number of mainstream researchers have already published the result that special relativity is geometrically irreconcilable with the general principle of relativity and with the principle of equivalence of inertia and gravitation (Moeller, Schild 1960).

  • The mainstream position is that where SR conflicts with the general principle, SR should be given priority. "GR is a useful heuristic" but "modern GR is more correctly described as a theory of covariance".
  • I take the other position, that within a general theory, the general principle of relativity automatically has priority over everything else.

This seems to make me the only researcher on the planet working on "genuine" general relativity.

Since I seem to be the main researcher into relativistic gravitation, gravitomagnetics, and "fully-curved" relativity theory, I have to try to be rather sparing about what I post to WP on the subject, due to the WP "conflict of interest" rules.

Some issues with current theory:


Brighton Toy and Model Museum[edit]

I've volunteered and worked at the museum for some time, now. I occasionally edit the museum's WP page -- while this might be considered a conflict of interest if the museum was a commercial company, WP has traditionally had an exemption for galleries, libraries, art repositories and museums (GLAM), whose staff (last I looked) were actively encouraged to expand their organisations' listings on WP and upload collections content where it was relevant and useful.

I've also done some photography and graphics design work for the museum, so any museum images and/or graphics that I upload are my own work and legitimate to upload (as well as being authorised by the museum).