A Pilot Wave Model of the Invariant Speed of Light and Apparent Time Dilation

Special relativity, general relativity, and de Broglie-Bohm (pilot wave) theory are explanations of fundamental aspects of nature. For the most part, special and general relativity concern observations at large scale, whereas pilot wave theory addresses atomic processes. A feature that is unique to relativity is time dilation, the slowing of time with; a) relative movement in an inertial reference frame, and b) the effect of a gravitational field. At present, time dilation remains a difficult notion to intuitively understand, although it can be derived from general principles and characterized by straightforward mathematics. Canonical pilot wave theory is less well known than relativity and does not address time dilation; however, the theory can be conceptually expanded to cover additional phenomena. Described here is an expanded pilot wave model proposing time dilation does not occur in nature, but rather the slowing of clocks or other objects is due to a mechanical change in atomic efficiency. In other words, atoms, structures composed of atoms, and emergent properties of objects operate more slowly with motion or gravity due to a functional decrease in the effect of pilot waves, but time always elapses at a constant rate for all observers. Idealized pilot wave and standing wave models are used to explain a mechanism for the invariant speed of light and apparent slowing of time due to motion or gravity.