On Gravitational Repulsion

Abstract

The concepts of negative gravitational mass and gravitational repulsion are alien to general relativity. Still, we show here that small negative fluctuations - small dimples in the primordial density field - that act as if they have an effective negative gravitational mass, play a dominant role in shaping our Universe. These initially tiny perturbations repel matter surrounding them, expand and grow to become voids in the galaxy distribution. These voids - regions with a diameter of $40 \h$ Mpc which are almost devoid of galaxies - are the largest object in the Universe.

10 pages, lates with 2 figures. Third prize in 1997 Gravity essay competition. ALso available from ftp://shemesh.fiz.huji.ac.il and http://shemesh.fiz.huji.ac.il

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• MOND-like behavior in the Dirac-Milne universe -- Flat rotation curves and mass/velocity relations in galaxies and clusters
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• Negative-Energy Matter and the Direction of Time