DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16186917
title: LUXSHADOW

description:  

Hypothesis: Photon Energy Loss in Strong Gravitational Fields as a Contributor to Dark Matter-like Effects

 

 

Author: Sina Taghipour Akhtari

Date: July 2025

 

 

 

 

Abstract

 

 

In this hypothesis, I propose that the cumulative gravitational redshift energy loss of photons emitted from high-mass stars may contribute to a hidden gravitational effect similar to dark matter. While traditional models treat redshifted photons as simply lower-energy quanta, this idea suggests that the “lost” energy does not vanish but remains within the fabric of spacetime in a distributed, non-radiative form. Over billions of years, and across billions of stars, this accumulated energy could produce a weak but large-scale gravitational field—one that may partially explain the gravitational anomalies currently attributed to dark matter.

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 

It is well-established in general relativity that light escaping from a massive object experiences a gravitational redshift, losing energy as it climbs out of a gravitational well. While this loss is typically considered as an observable redshift (i.e., stretching of wavelength), the fate of the “lost” energy remains a conceptual mystery. This hypothesis explores the possibility that the redshift energy, while no longer observable as light, contributes to the curvature of spacetime as a persistent, unobservable field.

 

 

 

 

Key Concepts

 

 



Gravitational Redshift: Light emitted from a strong gravitational field loses energy, observed as an increase in wavelength.

Energy Conservation: According to the principle of conservation of energy, this “lost” energy must exist in some form.

Spacetime Residue: The hypothesis proposes that redshifted energy leaves behind a gravitational imprint in the form of a distributed energetic residue within spacetime.

Dark Matter Analogy: If this residue behaves gravitationally, though not electromagnetically, it may exhibit similar effects to dark matter—particularly in stabilizing galactic rotation curves and preserving large-scale structure.


 

 

 

 

 

Model Summary

 

 

A simplified simulation using 100 billion stars in a galaxy like the Milky Way shows that:

 



The total energy lost via gravitational redshift over 13.8 billion years equals ~1.77×10⁴⁸ joules.

This is equivalent to about ~9.87 solar masses worth of energy.

When compared to the ~10¹² solar masses of inferred dark matter in the Milky Way, this accounts for only ~1 in 100 billion of the total dark matter mass.


 

 

Despite its small fraction, the persistence and non-localized nature of this energetic residue might have cumulative effects not yet fully explored in standard cosmological models.

 

 

 

 

Implications and Next Steps

 

 



Further development of the hypothesis may involve coupling with scalar fields or modifications of general relativity.

Quantum field theory in curved spacetime may offer insight into how such “residual fields” might persist or interact.

Observational consequences could include minor deviations in gravitational lensing or cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature gradients.


 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

Although not sufficient alone to replace the entire mass of dark matter, this hypothesis introduces a novel way to reinterpret gravitational redshift energy loss as a contributor to spacetime curvature. It invites new investigation into whether lost photon energy may not vanish, but instead “fold” into the universe as a form of non-visible, gravitation-contributing energy—a possible shadow of light.

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