1994:
The Alcubierre drive or Alcubierre metric (referring to metric tensor) is a speculative idea based on a solution of Einstein's field equations in general relativity as proposed by (Mexican) theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre, by which a spacecraft could achieve faster-than-light travel if a configurable energy-density field lower than that of vacuum (i.e. negative mass) could be created. Miguel Alcubierre's mathematical idea came in 1994. The big problem with Miguel's mathematical theory is that it required the exotic matter equivalent to the mass of Jupiter - which was technically not feasible.
2012, 24th September 2013
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White (from NASA) made major mathematical modifications to M. Alcubierre's mathematical theory. His modifications reduced the insane (Jupiter) amount of exotic matter to an amount less than the mass of the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which is about 1 Ton. This reduction may seem meaningless to most of us, but this is a gigantic improvement to an already esoteric mathematical model.
The paper itself is here. The term "York Time" means the expansion and contraction of space-time.
http://files.meetup.com/8892532/H White warp field paper.pdf
After "reading" this, I sent the following dumb questions to Harold White:
1.I read in numerous articles online, referencing your paper, that such a "torus" would have to be made by an "exotic matter."
What is meant by this? A completely new undiscovered element, or a nano-manufactured meta material?
2.Also, what would the theoretical energy requirements be for powering the device for the size of a football f.ex.?
3.By what means could this contraction/expansion of space time ("York Time"?) occur around the ring... electromagnetism of some kind?
He responded with:
John,
Thanks for the note. The math requires negative vacuum energy – I suggest you look up Casimir force. There are additional ways to do this, and Dr. Eric Davis covers some of them in his chapter of the AIAA book titled Frontiers of Propulsion Science (AIAA best seller on 2nd edition). It is a highly technical book, but “gold standard” library reference so to speak.
Our experimental efforts are focused on trying to develop a small instance in the lab. We will be building some test articles to explore the bubble oscillation idea to see if we can increase the intensity of the phenomenon.
The total energy required for a 10 meter diameter bubble travelling with an effective velocity of 10c (nothing locally exceeds c mind you) was shown to be reduced from a Jupiter amount of exotic matter to an amount less than the mass of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. That was the significant finding I presented at the 100YSS time-distance technical session.
To answer your last question, it requires negative vacuum energy, and there are a number of means of generating this – the challenge being to generate enough of it. But with the reduction in the required amount, there is hope.
Godspeed,
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White
Advanced Propulsion Theme Lead
Nuclear System Working Group, JSC Representative
NASA Engineering Directorate
Johnson Space Center
The Alcubierre drive or Alcubierre metric (referring to metric tensor) is a speculative idea based on a solution of Einstein's field equations in general relativity as proposed by (Mexican) theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre, by which a spacecraft could achieve faster-than-light travel if a configurable energy-density field lower than that of vacuum (i.e. negative mass) could be created. Miguel Alcubierre's mathematical idea came in 1994. The big problem with Miguel's mathematical theory is that it required the exotic matter equivalent to the mass of Jupiter - which was technically not feasible.
2012, 24th September 2013
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White (from NASA) made major mathematical modifications to M. Alcubierre's mathematical theory. His modifications reduced the insane (Jupiter) amount of exotic matter to an amount less than the mass of the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which is about 1 Ton. This reduction may seem meaningless to most of us, but this is a gigantic improvement to an already esoteric mathematical model.
The paper itself is here. The term "York Time" means the expansion and contraction of space-time.
http://files.meetup.com/8892532/H White warp field paper.pdf
After "reading" this, I sent the following dumb questions to Harold White:
1.I read in numerous articles online, referencing your paper, that such a "torus" would have to be made by an "exotic matter."
What is meant by this? A completely new undiscovered element, or a nano-manufactured meta material?
2.Also, what would the theoretical energy requirements be for powering the device for the size of a football f.ex.?
3.By what means could this contraction/expansion of space time ("York Time"?) occur around the ring... electromagnetism of some kind?
He responded with:
John,
Thanks for the note. The math requires negative vacuum energy – I suggest you look up Casimir force. There are additional ways to do this, and Dr. Eric Davis covers some of them in his chapter of the AIAA book titled Frontiers of Propulsion Science (AIAA best seller on 2nd edition). It is a highly technical book, but “gold standard” library reference so to speak.
Our experimental efforts are focused on trying to develop a small instance in the lab. We will be building some test articles to explore the bubble oscillation idea to see if we can increase the intensity of the phenomenon.
The total energy required for a 10 meter diameter bubble travelling with an effective velocity of 10c (nothing locally exceeds c mind you) was shown to be reduced from a Jupiter amount of exotic matter to an amount less than the mass of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. That was the significant finding I presented at the 100YSS time-distance technical session.
To answer your last question, it requires negative vacuum energy, and there are a number of means of generating this – the challenge being to generate enough of it. But with the reduction in the required amount, there is hope.
Godspeed,
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White
Advanced Propulsion Theme Lead
Nuclear System Working Group, JSC Representative
NASA Engineering Directorate
Johnson Space Center
