The Theory of Observational Relativity Serial Report 3: Einstein's Prediction of Gravitational Waves is an Error

<ns3:p> Background The theory of Observational Relativity (OR), a new theory, has generalized and unified Newtonian mechanics and Einstein relativity theory. The OR Serial Reports intend to interpret the theory of OR. The logical consistency and theoretical validity of OR, as well as, the empirical basis and experimental evidence of OR, have been clarified in OR Serial Report 1. The theory of OR has had significant discoveries: as reported in OR Serial Report 1, the speed of light is not really invariant and spacetime is not really curved; as reported in OR Serial Report 2, the rest mass of photons is not really zero. Now, OR Serial Report 3 reports to readers: Einstein mistakenly predicted gravitational waves; LIGO mistakenly detected gravitational waves. In 1916, Einstein derived a wave equation from his gravitational-field equation of general relativity, which has two characteristic physical quantities: the Newtonian gravitational potential <ns3:italic>χ</ns3:italic> ; the light speed <ns3:italic>c.</ns3:italic> Accordingly, Einstein decided that his wave equation must represent gravitational waves and the speed of gravitational waves must be the speed of light. Methods From the GOR gravitational-field equation of the general observation agent OA( <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> ) (0&lt; <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> &lt;∞; <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> →∞), the Gravitational theory of OR (GOR) has also derived a wave equation with two characteristic physical quantities: the Newtonian gravitational potential <ns3:italic>χ</ns3:italic> ; the information-wave speed <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> of OA( <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> ). Results The GOR wave equation suggests that the GOR wave must be the information wave of OA( <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> ), and that the Newtonian gravitational potential <ns3:italic>χ</ns3:italic> must be the information about gravitational spacetime loaded or carried by the information wave of OA( <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> ). Conclusions It is thus clear that Einstein’s wave equation does not represent gravitational waves, but the information wave of the optical observation agent OA( <ns3:italic>c</ns3:italic> ) ( <ns3:italic>η</ns3:italic> = <ns3:italic>c</ns3:italic> ), that is, light or an electromagnetic wave transmitting observed information at the speed of light. So, what did LIGO detect? </ns3:p>