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I believe it is possible, does not violate the laws of motion or thermodynamics, and is relatively straight forward. Does that make me a barking moonbat?

No, it makes you correct. The author of this blog-post is confused.

The law of conservation of momentum in three dimensions only holds approximately, because classical physics is only an approximation. In relativistic physics, conservation of momentum hold exactly, and is four dimensional. The fourth component of momentum is energy, and the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum are one law in relativity.

In Lorentz invariant terms: p^μp_μ = m². [in a system of units where ħ = c = 1.]

In practical units and more familiar terms: ]

As long as you can convert some mass -- usually binding energy from a chemical or nuclear bond -- into momentum/energy, you don't need "reactive mass." The article has been wrong since 1906.

There is nothing new here. Please move along.

I think the novel part here is what they are converting to achieve the effect. They set the photons oscillating in a chamber which forces the wavelengths to change as the photon goes from one end to the other. This alters the group velocity of the photons, which changes the radiation pressure as the photons strike each end of the cavity.

So the conversion seems to be between the forward group velocity and the lateral oscillation, which is immaterial as it pertains to the desired effect of the drive. The photons don’t lose any energy before hitting the other side, they are just reconfigured so that they will impart energy less efficiently before they hit that side.

I’ve always wondered if instead of requiring a large reactive mass by pushing, instead we tried to pull and push. What I mean by this is have a collector up front that pulls in light, particles, background radiation energy like a vacuum... it could be partially or wholly passive and then funnel it through a nozzle on the back end.

This should create a positive force in the forward direction though incremental energy pressure differential, but it would have the potential of limiting or eliminating the mass required to be carried for fuel.

There may also be a means of attraction through gravimetric force if willing to add significant mass to the vessel to increase attraction of particles - diverting them from the mass and aft of the vessel.

I see from some of the latter posts the geometric ideas in this proposal and see a similarity with lift on wings.

Your knowledge is greater than mine. I am interested in learning higher mathematics and physics. Can you recommend some good resources? I had a brief flirtation with Lorentz transformations, but what I did know I have forgotten. Similarly, I am interested in studying more advanced physics than what I know now.

Interestingly, I developed a theory to allow anti-gravity devices, a way to actually build such a device. I took it to a graduate level physics lecture (they were discussing Eigenvectors). After the class I approached the professor and presented my theory. He was unable to punch any holes in it and after about 40 minutes he decided that I had “discovered” relativity but from a different approach. I want to know if my theory is correct or not, but I need more education to help in that endeavor.