NASA Archives: "Warp Field Mechanics 101"

[The Traveler]

This paper is on the NASA Technical Reports Server. 33 page PDF. It is claimed that a theoretical development has been performed that suggests the possibility of a warp field drive. It suggests and experiment, a Michelson-Morley type setup, to detect a weak warp field produced by a simple capacitive toroid. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." I have no idea what to make of this. Still, I am reminded of a comment by Obama when NASA's man in space plans were suddenly changed ... that NASA would be focusing on more advanced technologies and innovative approaches to deep space travel. Hmmmmmm ...

Examination of the properties of the document indicates a creation date Sept 7, 2011 and a modification date of Sept 30. The article points out that warp field physics has not yet had a "Chicago pile" moment ... but suggests that the experiment proposed may yield one.

Warp Field Mechanics 101

Trav

[drm604]

1. Very interesting.

[BadgerKid]

2. The news here appears to be how to apply the Alcubierre mathematics.

The Alcubierre spacetime metric has been known for a while.

For technical discussion, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive

[The Traveler]

5. Actually, I think the news is

that someone at NASA is building apparatus to test this application of the theoretical construct.

I read over that link (thanks) ... there seem to be some real issues with starting/stopping this warp bubble thing. And while it is a proper solution to the field equations, not all solutions are "sane" and this may not be one of the "sane" ones due to energy considerations.

Be interesting to see what they come up with ...

[Tesha]

3. Is the author named Cochrane? (NT)

[Odin2005]

4. Schweetness!