Gravity as an Emergent Force: Why We May Be Looking at It Backwards
Introduction
For centuries, gravity has been seen as one of the universe's most fundamental forces. Newton described its effects. Einstein reframed it as spacetime curvature. And yet, the quest to unify gravity with the other three forces—electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces—remains unsolved. This article proposes a new direction, one that turns the question of gravity on its head: What if gravity isn’t fundamental at all? What if it's an emergent effect—something that arises from the interplay between electromagnetic systems and quantum interactions?
The Dual Framework Hypothesis
My theory, formalized in early 2024 and expanded throughout the year, introduces a two-layer explanation of gravity:
Diagram: Gravity as the emergent result of two layers—electromagnetic field equilibrium (macro) and quantum interaction density (micro). These forces converge to produce spacetime curvature.
Macroscopic Layer
Gravity emerges from the balance of electromagnetic fields. Celestial bodies accumulate matter until they reach local charge neutrality. These neutral bodies, immersed in a sea of solar plasma and interstellar charge gradients, exert a kind of residual field attraction. Not because they are charged—but because equilibrium in a complex, dynamic field always exerts influence.
Microscopic Layer
Gravity arises from the sum of quantum interactions: scattering, annihilation, superposition, and measurement. Each interaction contributes an infinitesimal influence on spacetime structure. In aggregate, these distortions curve what we perceive as the gravitational field.
This hypothesis reframes gravity not as a standalone force, but as the natural consequence of systems seeking energetic and field-based balance.
Why This Approach Makes Sense
Traditional physics struggles to reconcile general relativity (a smooth continuum) with quantum mechanics (a probabilistic, discrete framework). My approach doesn’t force them to unify at the level of equations. Instead, it allows gravity to emerge naturally from the behavior of the other two forces, which are already unified under the Standard Model.
By observing how planets, black holes, and fields behave, we find consistent electromagnetic signatures—field alignment, charge saturation, plasma interactions—that hint at something deeper than simple mass attraction.
Meanwhile, in the quantum domain, fields interact constantly. If we consider that every quantum event—every energy exchange—could subtly reshape spacetime, then gravitational curvature becomes not a cause, but a statistical effect.
The Role of Mathematics
I’ve proposed two working formulas for initial modeling:
$$f(Q_c, M_p) = k \cdot \frac{Q_c}{M_p}$$
$$f(Q_c, M_p) = k \cdot \sqrt{Q_c \cdot M_p}$$
These attempt to represent how charge \( Q_c \) and mass \( M_p \) might interact to produce an effective gravitational pull. The constants and variables here are placeholders for a more complete framework—one that could adapt to conditions like energy density, plasma behavior, or quantum field complexity.
\( Q_c \): Charge of the object or system
\( M_p \): Mass of the particle or object
\( k \): Proportionality constant (could vary with environment or model)
\( Q_{\mu\nu} \): Quantum interaction energy tensor (sum of annihilation, superposition, and scattering effects)
More significantly, I’ve proposed a modification to Einstein’s field equations:
$$G_{\mu\nu} + \Lambda g_{\mu\nu} = \frac{8\pi G}{c^4}(T_{\mu\nu} + Q_{\mu\nu})$$
Where \( Q_{\mu\nu} \) represents a quantum interaction tensor—an energy density field generated by annihilation, superposition, and other interactions. This additional term accounts for the energy contributed by quantum-scale activity—effects not traditionally captured by classical stress-energy.
While speculative, this adjustment offers a new direction for exploring unification without abandoning what works in general relativity.
Why This Holds Up Better Than Other Emergent Theories
Many emergent gravity models, like Verlinde’s entropic gravity or theories based on the Transactional Interpretation of quantum mechanics, rely on single-layer assumptions or philosophical interpretations. They may lack either mathematical structure, macroscopic compatibility, or intuitive clarity.
What makes the Dual Framework Hypothesis different is:
It bridges quantum and classical physics without distorting either.
It recognizes electromagnetic fields as real, dominant factors in celestial behavior.
It provides a direction for testability, including observational anomalies in high EM environments, gravitational behavior in magnetars, or even field alignment in plasma-rich space.
Why We Can’t Yet Prove It
The greatest gap in this theory isn’t logic—it’s tools. To validate this framework, we’d need to:
Measure quantum interaction density across spacetime.
Observe field-induced gravitational anomalies.
Model planetary formation as charge-stabilizing systems.
Current instrumentation isn’t sensitive or broad enough. But what matters now is direction. And this theory gives us one that’s consistent with what we already observe and offers fertile ground for exploration.
One possible pathway toward testing this theory would involve observing gravitational behavior near environments with high electromagnetic complexity, such as magnetars or plasma-rich planetary systems. If gravity is indeed an emergent effect of field and quantum interaction density, we may detect gravitational anomalies in such environments—or in laboratory setups where strong EM fields intersect with controlled quantum systems, such as Bose–Einstein condensates or ultra-cold ion traps.
Final Thoughts
If gravity emerges from electromagnetic and quantum interactions, then it may not be a fundamental force, but the outcome of systems balancing their energy and field dynamics. This model doesn’t reject current physics—it extends it, offering a new way to connect what we observe with how nature works beneath the surface.
Whether or not this theory holds, I hope it invites a broader conversation about where gravity truly begins.
Justin Ortiz
Gravity as an Emergent Property of Electromagnetism and Quantum Interactions
Note: This theory was originally conceptualized and documented in February 2024, prior to the publication of similar emergent gravity models in public science media. The Dual Framework Hypothesis represents an independently developed and uniquely layered approach to reconciling gravity with the known forces of physics.