An aether model of the universe

An aether model based upon a degenerate Fermion fluid, composed primarily o f electrons and positrons in a negative energy state relative to the null s tate or true vacuum, is proposed and its consequences are explored for phys ics and cosmology. The model provides both insight and quantitative results for a large number of phenomena for which conventional theory provides no answers or unsatisfactory answers. Among the concepts treated are wave-part icle duality; the nature of spin (a vortex in the aether); the derivation o f Hubble's law; electric fields (polarization of the aether); Zitterbewegun g (a bare particle orbiting within a vortex core); inflation in cosmology; the arrow of time; the Pauli exclusion principle (repulsion between paralle l spin vortices); the nature of the photon (a region of rotating polarized aether propagating with a screw-like motion); neutrinos (a spin vortex with no particle in its core); redshifts; gamma-ray bursters; and a number of o ther topics. A key assumption is that the speed of light is the Fermi veloc ity of the degenerate electron-positron plasma that dominates the aether. A s a consequence the speed of light decreases with time on the scale of the age of the universe.