Warp Drive News
For all my Trekkie friends...an email posted to a list:
Subject: (OT) NASA to investigate magnetic field based warp-drive
The program called "NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program (BPP)" is intending to use the "American Department of Energy's" "Z-Machine" to investigate an idea for a space warp-drive which uses magnetic sphears.
The idea has been most recently outlined in the 2004 paper entitled "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory" by Walter Dröscher and Jochem Häuser of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Wissenschaft (IGW), and Leopold Franzens of the Universität Innsbruck, Insbruck, Austria Department of Transportation, University of Applied Sciences and Department of High Performance Computing, CLE GmbH, Salzgitter, Germany.
This paper was in turn based on the 1977 paper, for which I have included an abstract and the link where it can be found.
Below I have also included is the text from today's article in The Scotsman and some pictures of the "Z-Machine".
------------
Interesting images of the existing Z-Machine which is to test these warp-drive theories:
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2004/images/jpg/z-machine.jpg
------------
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/images/z-supershooter.jpg
Heim Quantum Theory for Space Propulsion Physics
Walter Dröscher
Jochem Häuser
Institut für Grenzgebiete der Wissenschaft (IGW)
Leopold - Franzens
Universität Innsbruck,
Maximilianstr. 8, 6010
Innsbruck, Austria
Faculty
Karl-Scharfenberg
University of Applied Sciences
Salzgitter, Germany,
Abstract. This paper describes a novel space propulsion technique, based on an extension of a unified field theory in a quantized, higher-dimensional space, developed by the late B. Heim (1977) in the 50s and 60s of the last century, termed Heim Quantum Theory (HQT). As a consequence of the unification, HQT predicts six fundamental interactions. The two additional interactions should enable a completely different type of propulsion, denoted gravitophoton field propulsion. The fifth interaction, termed gravitophoton force, would accelerate a material body without the need of propellant. Gravitophoton interaction is a gravitational like force, mediated by gravitophoton particles that come in both types, attractive and repulsive. Gravitophoton particles are generated in pairs from the vacuum itself by the effect of vacuum polarization (virtual electrons), under the presence of a very strong magnetic field (photons). Due to gravitophoton pair production, the total energy extracted from the vacuum is zero. Attractive gravitophotons interact with matter, and thus can become real particles, exacting a force on a material body.
Repulsive gravitophotons have a much smaller cross section and do not interact with matter. Consequently, the kinetic energy of the accelerated material body would come from the vacuum, satisfying the second condition, i.e., a low energy budget for space propulsion. The name gravitophoton has been chosen because a transformation of photons into gravitational energy should take place. The third condition for advanced spaceflight, superluminal speed, may be realized by transition into a parallel space, in which covariant laws of physics are valid, with a limiting speed of light nc, where n is an integer and c is the vacuum speed of light. In order to achieve such a transition, the sixth fundamental interaction would be needed, termed vacuum field (or quintessence), which is a weakly repulsive gravitational like force, mediated by the vacuum particle, being formed by the interaction of repulsive gravitophotons with the gravitons of the spacecraft. The paper discusses the source of the two predicted interactions, the concept of parallel space, and presents the physical model along with an experimental setup to measure and estimate the gravitophoton force. Estimates for the magnitude of magnetic fields are presented, and trip times for lunar and Mars missions are given.
http://public.fh-wolfenbuettel.de/~haeuser/research/Research.html
----------
Below is the text from today's article in The Scottsman:
Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip
IAN JOHNSTON
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
AN EXTRAORDINARY "hyperspace" engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government.
The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today's New Scientist magazine.
The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft.
Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.
The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy - which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine - say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny.
Professor Jochem Hauser, one of the scientists who put forward the idea, told The Scotsman that if everything went well a working engine could be tested in about five years.
However, Prof Hauser, a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency, cautioned it was based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics.
"It would be amazing. I have been working on propulsion systems for quite a while and it would be the most amazing thing. The benefits would be almost unlimited," he said.
"But this thing is not around the corner; we first have to prove the basic science is correct and there are quite a few physicists who have a different opinion.
"It's our job to prove we are right and we are working on that."
He said the engine would enable spaceships to travel to different solar systems. "If the theory is correct then this is not science fiction, it is science fact," Prof Hauser said.
"NASA have contacted me and next week I'm going to see someone from the [US] air force to talk about it further, but it is at a very early stage. I think the best-case scenario would be within the next five years [to build a test device] if the technology works."
The US authorities' attention was attracted after Prof Hauser and an Austrian colleague, Walter Droscher, wrote a paper called "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory."
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=16902006
Subject: (OT) NASA to investigate magnetic field based warp-drive
The program called "NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program (BPP)" is intending to use the "American Department of Energy's" "Z-Machine" to investigate an idea for a space warp-drive which uses magnetic sphears.
The idea has been most recently outlined in the 2004 paper entitled "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory" by Walter Dröscher and Jochem Häuser of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Wissenschaft (IGW), and Leopold Franzens of the Universität Innsbruck, Insbruck, Austria Department of Transportation, University of Applied Sciences and Department of High Performance Computing, CLE GmbH, Salzgitter, Germany.
This paper was in turn based on the 1977 paper, for which I have included an abstract and the link where it can be found.
Below I have also included is the text from today's article in The Scotsman and some pictures of the "Z-Machine".
------------
Interesting images of the existing Z-Machine which is to test these warp-drive theories:
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2004/images/jpg/z-machine.jpg
------------
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/images/z-supershooter.jpg
Heim Quantum Theory for Space Propulsion Physics
Walter Dröscher
Jochem Häuser
Institut für Grenzgebiete der Wissenschaft (IGW)
Leopold - Franzens
Universität Innsbruck,
Maximilianstr. 8, 6010
Innsbruck, Austria
Faculty
Karl-Scharfenberg
University of Applied Sciences
Salzgitter, Germany,
Abstract. This paper describes a novel space propulsion technique, based on an extension of a unified field theory in a quantized, higher-dimensional space, developed by the late B. Heim (1977) in the 50s and 60s of the last century, termed Heim Quantum Theory (HQT). As a consequence of the unification, HQT predicts six fundamental interactions. The two additional interactions should enable a completely different type of propulsion, denoted gravitophoton field propulsion. The fifth interaction, termed gravitophoton force, would accelerate a material body without the need of propellant. Gravitophoton interaction is a gravitational like force, mediated by gravitophoton particles that come in both types, attractive and repulsive. Gravitophoton particles are generated in pairs from the vacuum itself by the effect of vacuum polarization (virtual electrons), under the presence of a very strong magnetic field (photons). Due to gravitophoton pair production, the total energy extracted from the vacuum is zero. Attractive gravitophotons interact with matter, and thus can become real particles, exacting a force on a material body.
Repulsive gravitophotons have a much smaller cross section and do not interact with matter. Consequently, the kinetic energy of the accelerated material body would come from the vacuum, satisfying the second condition, i.e., a low energy budget for space propulsion. The name gravitophoton has been chosen because a transformation of photons into gravitational energy should take place. The third condition for advanced spaceflight, superluminal speed, may be realized by transition into a parallel space, in which covariant laws of physics are valid, with a limiting speed of light nc, where n is an integer and c is the vacuum speed of light. In order to achieve such a transition, the sixth fundamental interaction would be needed, termed vacuum field (or quintessence), which is a weakly repulsive gravitational like force, mediated by the vacuum particle, being formed by the interaction of repulsive gravitophotons with the gravitons of the spacecraft. The paper discusses the source of the two predicted interactions, the concept of parallel space, and presents the physical model along with an experimental setup to measure and estimate the gravitophoton force. Estimates for the magnitude of magnetic fields are presented, and trip times for lunar and Mars missions are given.
http://public.fh-wolfenbuettel.de/~haeuser/research/Research.html
----------
Below is the text from today's article in The Scottsman:
Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip
IAN JOHNSTON
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
AN EXTRAORDINARY "hyperspace" engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government.
The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today's New Scientist magazine.
The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft.
Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.
The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy - which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine - say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny.
Professor Jochem Hauser, one of the scientists who put forward the idea, told The Scotsman that if everything went well a working engine could be tested in about five years.
However, Prof Hauser, a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency, cautioned it was based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics.
"It would be amazing. I have been working on propulsion systems for quite a while and it would be the most amazing thing. The benefits would be almost unlimited," he said.
"But this thing is not around the corner; we first have to prove the basic science is correct and there are quite a few physicists who have a different opinion.
"It's our job to prove we are right and we are working on that."
He said the engine would enable spaceships to travel to different solar systems. "If the theory is correct then this is not science fiction, it is science fact," Prof Hauser said.
"NASA have contacted me and next week I'm going to see someone from the [US] air force to talk about it further, but it is at a very early stage. I think the best-case scenario would be within the next five years [to build a test device] if the technology works."
The US authorities' attention was attracted after Prof Hauser and an Austrian colleague, Walter Droscher, wrote a paper called "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory."
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=16902006