Bifasic Time and Gravitational Time Dilation: Consistency with Three Experimental Measurements and a Strong-Field Divergence

Abstract

The Elastic Three-Dimensional Lattice (RTE) model proposes that time is not a continuous flow but a sequence of discrete bifasic cycles — absorption and release phases of the elastic lattice. Where elastic tension K̃(r) is higher (near massive objects), each cycle takes longer to complete: clocks run slow. This yields a local clock rate f(r)/f₀ = 1 − GM/rc², consistent with the weak-field time dilation of General Relativity. We compare this formula with three experimentally established measurements: the Hafele-Keating airborne clock experiment (1971), GPS satellite clock corrections, and the NIST optical clock comparison at 33 cm height difference (2010). The formula is consistent with all three datasets within 9%. In the strong-field regime (ε = GM/rc² ≳ 0.1), RTE and GR diverge: for a neutron star with ε ≈ 0.206, GR predicts dτ/dt = 0.766 while RTE predicts 0.794 — a 3.6% difference testable with pulsar timing data. Companion papers: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22016878 (Paper 1) | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22016982 (Paper 2)