Will Spacecraft ever Go Faster than the speed of Light?

Various - See Text ^ | 16 FEB 2003 | Various

[Diddley]

--- taking 50 years for the round trip ---

[TigersEye]

bttt for later read.

[PatrickHenry]

Placemarker.

[BaBaStooey]

Zephram Cochrane, the John Wayne of space, invents warp drive in the 2060s right after WWIII kills half a billion people (Star Trek: First Contact). Gosh, I thought everyone knew that.

All we need is some antimatter injectors and a warp coil. Someone? Anyone?

[vannrox]

The basic ideas here will be presented both at American Physical Society March Meeting in Austin and April Meeting in Philadelphia. A Sarfatti Commentary on Decoding The Cipher of Genesis "My Father's House has many mansions." Rabbi Yeshua On Monday, February 17, 2003, at 09:31 AM, al ... wrote: > Saul Paul said: "this quantity 137.0360 can be regarded as the > hypotenuse of a right angle triangle, with the base 137 and the > height pi = 3.14159." > > Jack noted: Of course in modern cosmology post inflation and post >> 1983 as summarized in Max Tegmark's latest paper for the Wheeler >> volume, these constants are not fundamental but are contingent > > My question: Even if these constants are contingent, I wonder whether > the same right triangular relationship between the contingent > constants would be conserved, albeit at some higher or lower value? I don't know. You should read John Barrow's "Constants of Nature" ASAP - lot's of interesting tidbits on this sort of thing, e.g. Fig 4.5. The main really new idea coming out of the latest WMAP data is the almost certain reality of Level I parallel Hubble sphere universes outside each others causal range on a single spatially smooth non-fractal simply-connected (on large scale) flat infinite Level II post-inflation bubble in a chaotic cosmology. Whether this or that Hubble sphere expands, contracts, stays static balanced, accelerates or decelerates is all random. We cannot exist in most of them! This means, as first suggested seriously by Lee Smolin, I think in a limited model, the prevalence of a kind of Darwinian natural selection AKA "Weak Anthropic Principle" or WAP, in the infinity of Ezekial's "Worlds Within Worlds". Strange synchronicities like the Eddington number pattern and the delicate balance of the "fundamental" constants of nature are really evidence for the empirical reality of other parallel worlds with parallel selves. This is Tegmark's main thesis. It may even have been anticipated by Nietzsche? These almost spooky coincidences are needed in order for our form of life to exist inside a single Hubble sphere universe. The proper relation of "brane worlds" to Level I and Level II structure is left unexplained in Tegmark's paper for the Wheeler Symposium sponsored by that Religious Group of Christian Apologists - Templeton Foundation. David Deutsch's Level III "multiverse", which adds "no new story line content" to Level I parallel universes as Tegmark points out, may be based on a colossal philosophical category error of over-extrapolating UNITARY MICRO-quantum physics to the large scale MACRO-quantum vacuum structure of Super Cosmos. UNITARY MICRO-quantum physics is John A. Wheeler's IT FROM BIT This is a one-way relation with a fragile Bohm BIT quantum potential for IT particles (or BIT super potential for IT field theory) with Tony Valentini's "sub-quantal heat death" entailing "signal locality" within nonlocally entangled complex micro-systems consistent with chaotic "environmental decoherence", hence, for example "no cloning a quantum" in a MICRO-quantum computer or cryptographic or teleportation device on a seemingly "secure" C^3 channel. There is no compensating BIT FROM IT "direct back-action" for entangled micro-quantum systems, and, more importantly, for "particle beams" in controlled lab scattering experiments. Each particle beam is a realization of a UNITARY Born probability P = ||^2 ensemble with "sub-quantal heat death". The several particles in the beam are NOT mutually entangled in a good scattering experiment. In this micro-quantum case formal unitarity can be associated with conservation of statistical probability - but this property does not survive in the formation of a "superfluid" macro-quantum ground state condensate except for the residual micro-quantum "normal fluid" Heisenberg uncertainty fluctuations into and out of the macro-condensate. It is these "normal fluid" fluctuations that maintain the "generalized phase rigidity" of the macro-condensate. In the special case of the relative "zero entropy" virtual off mass shell macro-quantum vacuum condensate (0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) this PW Anderson "phase rigidity" is Sakharov's "metric elasticity" of Einstein's 1915 zero torsion geometrodynamics as a collective emergent modulated Goldstone phase mode at the Diff(4) second rank tensor level out of the micro-quantum Dirac substratum of spin 1/2 - spin 1 representations of the globally flat Poincare group P. P = T X L The "More Is Different" vacuum phase transition locally gauges at least T (4-parameter translation subgroup generated by total 4-momentum) to zero torsion Diff(4) with compensating local c-number fields and /\. It is the /\ field that pumps chaotic inflation forming the Worlds Within Worlds of Tegmark's Levels I and II. The reality of the latter two levels is shown by the new NASA WMAP evidence. Locally gauging the six-parameter Lorentz group L of the tangent fiber seems to give a compensating field Diff(4) base space homogeneous third rank tensor local "torsion field" (Kibble & Gennady Shipov) whose Diff(4) <-> L tetrad transform seems to be Jim Corum's inhomogeneous anholonomic connection field for rotating mobile Cartan frames whose centers of mass are confined to timelike geodesics of the Diff(4) group of the base space of the Level II post-inflationary bubble's "tangent bundle"? Thus, I have shown, I suspect in a Sleep Walking way, how the large scale structure of Super Cosmos (i.e. chaotic inflation of Levels I and II + M theory brane worlds "UFO universes next door") is a "More is different" Sakharov-Anderson emergence of smooth c-number fields and /\ out of the virtual BCS-BEC condensate in the globally flat micro-quantum spin 1 -spin 1/2 unstable vacuum to the more stable lower relative entropy spin 1/2 PV macro-quantum post-inflationary vacuum with LOCAL coherent order parameter (0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) at space-time point event p on a scale >> string length. This local complex numbered "spin 0" Diff(4) scalar Master Field (0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) can be written as the spin 1 gauge force invariant (0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) = |(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0)|e^i[arg(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) - IntegralTaAu(p)^adx^u] where |(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0)| = Higgs Modulus Field and arg(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) - IntegralTaAu(p)^adx^u = Spin 1 Gauge Force-Invariant Goldstone Phase Field = Minkowski + (1/2)Lplanck*^2{Du,Dv}[arg(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) - IntegralTaAu(p)^adx^u] Du = ,u + TaAu(p)^a { , } is anti-commutator Lplanck*^2 = hG*/c^3 = Beckenstein BIT of Susskind "world hologram" ~ Vol^2/3/Lp*^2 NOT Vol/Lp*^3 Lplanck* >> Lplanck may be true on micro-scales. EEP eu^a(p) tetrad is from a non-spin 1 phase transform {Du,Dv}[arg(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) - IntegralTaAu(p)^adx^u + Chi(p)] = 0 *The Diff(4) LOCAL NONLINEAR BIT FROM IT MACRO-QUANTUM Landau-Ginzburg equation that REPLACES the nonlocal linear micro-quantum Schrodinger equation HPsi = (h/i)Psi,t in configuration space is {[^;u + TaAu(p)^a][;u + TbAu(p)^b] + m(vac)^2 + b(vac)|(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0)|^2} 0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) = 0 where ;u is the Diff(4) covariant derivative in the curved background metric. This is a BOOT STRAP self-organizing self-creating globally consistent loop like Escher's "Drawing Hands" shown in my book "Destiny Matrix" http://www.1stbooks.com naturally and parsimoniously explaining the locality of the macro quantum world out of the nonlocal micro-quantum world. We do not need the miracle of von Neumann's "projection postulate" or "collapse". The micro-quantum superposition principle is modified at the macro-quantum level. Suppose we can somehow make a Josephson "weak link" between the vacuum |0) and a real superconductor |g). This would modulate the quintessent dark energy/matter /\ field. /\(p) = Lplanck*^-2[1 - Lplanck*^3|(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) + (g|e-(p)e-(p)|g)|^2] Assume = 0 which is Einstein's 1915 non-gravitating vacuum in which Ruv(vac) = 0 is the local c-number field equation from the Einstein-Hilbert Diff(4) local 4D world action density (-det)^1/2 Ru^u That is |(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0)|^2 = Lplanck*^-3 Therefore, |(0|e+(p)e-(p)|0) + (g|e-(p)e-(p)|g)|^2 --> Lplanck*^-3 + (superconductor density) + 2Lplanck*^-3/2(superconductor density)^1/2 cos[arg(0|e+e-|0) - (g|e-e-|g) + Integral TaAu^adx^u + Berry Phase] This term appears in the BIT FROM IT Landau-Ginzburg equation as the basis for "metric engineering". Note that the Lplanck*^3 terms exactly cancel out. Therefore, the metrically engineerable dark energy/matter field is /\(p) = -Lplanck*^-1[(superconductor density) + Lplanck^-3/2(superconductor density)^1/2 cos(Gauge Invariant Dynamical Beat Phase Difference + Berry Phase)] anti-gravitating dark energy requires (superconductor density) + Lplanck^-3/2(superconductor density)^1/2 cos(Gauge Invariant Dynamical Beat Phase Difference + Berry Phase) < 0 That is (superconductor density)^1/2 + Lplanck^-3/2 cos(Gauge Invariant Dynamical Beat Phase Difference + Berry Phase) < 0 [(superconductor density)(Lplanck*)^3]^1/2 + cos(Gauge Invariant Dynamical Beat Phase Difference + Berry Phase) < 0 I also included possible topological Berry phase effects in addition to the Bohm-Aharonov-Josephson dynamical phase effects. Indeed Giovanni Modanese's model of alleged anti-gravity effects in rotating superconducting disks would be relevant here as a test. /\ > 0 (in John Peacock's 3 GR sign conventions) is anti-gravitating exotic vacuum "dark energy". /\ < 0 is gravitating exotic vacuum "dark matter" PW Anderson's "generalized phase rigidity" in this special case is precisely Andre Sakharov's "metric elasticity" of Hagen Kleinert's precipitate the "world crystal lattice" with large-scale "spacetime stiffness" G(Newton)/c^4 = 10^-33 cm/10^19 Gev = (Super String Tension)^-1 This number, like ALL misnamed "fundamental" numbers of physical parameters for our provincial Hubble Sphere in which we are stuck like Ed Abbot's "Flatlanders", is a purely Darwinian natural selection of initial conditions effect or WAP effect selecting out an infinite sub-ensemble of Hubble spheres with our form of carbon-based conscious life, out of the seemingly non-denumerable infinity of such Hubble spheres in an equally seeemingly non-denumerable infinity of chaotic post-inflationary bubbles.

[boris]

Nice formatting.

[vannrox]

SPACE is an amazing place.

During the summer I like to go out at night and look up at the stars.



If you go to the GRIN NASA Site you can see quite a large number of great HST photos that I wasn't aware existed.

[Kevin OMalley]

I agree. After all, the metric system was devised as a result of discovering the circumference of the Earth. Why not a new metric system based upon the observed speed of light at the time?

[Drango]

My wife can spend faster than light.

[boris]

"Even if it were possible to go the speed of light, the human body couldn't practically take it...It would take around 15 years accelerating with 3G's of force (which is a LOT for a constant pressure) to reach the speed of light...another 12 years to slow down...12 to speed up and 12 more to slow down on the way back...50 year minimum journey and no way to communicate with earth?..not practical...unless we find a way to freeze people and forget about them for a hundred years." Your math is wrong (unless you are including relativistic effects; I have not done that calculation). As I pointed out above, one "G" is 1.032 light years/year/year.

--Boris

[SunkenCiv]

Light Exceeds Its Own Speed Limit, or Does It?
Published: May 30, 2000 Author: JAMES GLANZ
Posted on 05/30/2000 09:13:11 PDT by H.R. Gross
http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a3933e89738c3.htm

Will the speed of light always be a barrier?
Air and Space Magaine. Vol # 1 March 1978 | March 1978
Editorial Staff w/ Melvin B. Zistein
Posted on 06/12/2005 6:00:55 PM PDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421630/posts

[KneelBeforeZod]

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!

[SunkenCiv]

Some two or three year old topics (including this one) related to or mentioning João Magueijo:

Faster Than the Speed of Light: E = mc2, Except When It Doesn't
NY Times | 2/09/03 | George Johnson
Posted on 02/28/2003 8:57:55 AM EST by Boot Hill
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/853725/posts

Speed of light slowing down?
WorldNetDaily | 7/31/04 | Chris Bennett
Posted on 08/01/2004 3:25:39 PM EDT by wagglebee
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1182979/posts

[SunkenCiv]

An oldie addition to an old topic of yours. :')

At the Speed of Light
by Tim Folger
DISCOVER Vol. 24 No. 4 (April 2003)

Webb used data collected by the world's most powerful telescope -- the Keck, perched on the summit of Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet up on the Big Island of Hawaii. He looked at light from 68 quasars -- extremely bright young galaxies -- as much as 12 billion light-years from Earth. During the light's long journey to Earth, it passed through clouds of intergalactic gas. In doing so, the light's spectra changed, depending on the chemical elements in the clouds.

The details of such spectral shifts are expressed mathematically by the so-called fine-structure constant, which consists of four components, including the speed of light. The constant should remain the same no matter where or when it's measured -- that's why it's called a constant. But Webb found otherwise. In the intergalactic clouds, the "constant" was smaller than the expected value by one part in 100,000. This means one or more elements of the fine-structure constant -- possibly the speed of light -- must have varied by the same amount. If light did travel that much faster 12 billion years ago, when it left the remotest quasars Webb studied, it would be consistent with Magueijo's theory. The difference may seem tiny, but it floored physicists around the world, including its discoverer. "I was absolutely stunned, yeah," Webb says. "I certainly didn't expect it."

...According to Magueijo's calculations, the speed of light near a cosmic string would increase dramatically: A spaceship traveling on one of these fast tracks could go well above the standard speed of light—186,282 miles per second—while still traveling at a fraction of the accelerated light-speed limit around the cosmic string. The laws of special relativity would still hold—time would slow down for the travelers. But because they would be traveling at a fraction of the cosmic string's light-speed limit, the effect would be minimized; astronauts could travel to the stars and return to Earth to find that months, not centuries, had passed.

[Proud2BeRight]

Scotty could always get those warp drive engines working just in time.

[Bender2]

Non Rocket Scientist Question: "How hot does it have to be for water to burn?"

I was wondering what would be the results of a laser producing a super-hot beam on water, which is made up of hydrogen and oxygen... Which burns rather well.

Let's say a stream of good old water (or steam) was squirted into a rocket combustion chamber and was hit by a million (or more!) degree laser beam...

Would we have a very efficent conversion of h2o to thrust?

Or what?

Any comments?