Is Reflective Fiction a Potential Problem for Starships at High Speeds?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the potential issues posed by the dynamic Casimir effect for starships traveling at relativistic speeds. Specifically, a reflective bow on a starship generates photons as it approaches the speed of light, creating drag that must be countered by engine force. Participants question whether this drag is significant compared to other forces such as friction from interstellar gas and dust or Doppler-hardened electromagnetic radiation. The conversation highlights the need for further mathematical analysis to quantify these effects.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the dynamic Casimir effect
  • Familiarity with relativistic physics
  • Knowledge of photon generation and drag forces
  • Basic principles of starship propulsion systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the dynamic Casimir effect in detail
  • Study relativistic drag forces on spacecraft
  • Examine the impact of interstellar medium on starship travel
  • Explore advanced propulsion techniques for overcoming drag
USEFUL FOR

Astrophysicists, aerospace engineers, science fiction writers, and anyone interested in the physics of high-speed space travel.

dbmorpher
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While the main problems of a functioning starship are commonly known such as energy requirements and radiation I have realized another problem when near the speed of light.
The dynamic Casimir effect occurs when a reflecting object reaches relativistic velocities.
Therefore a starship with a reflective bow will produce photons when the velocity approaches c.
So a drag will occour as the ship speeds up.
This drag could be used to slow the ship down but just like an airplane it must be overcome with force from the engine.
I don't know if this is the correct section to post in or even if my idea is right (I haven't done the math yet) but I just wanted you all to know of this possible problem.
 
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dbmorpher said:
So a drag will occur as the ship speeds up.
1] Is there any reason to think this drag would not be swamped to several orders of magnitude by friction from interstellar atomic gas and dust?
2] Is there any reason to think this drag would not be swamped to several orders of magnitude by the vanilla doppler-hardened EM radiation?
3] Space is awfully black. Just how much reflective fiction could there possibly be? The powerplant of this spaceship puts out more energy than a significant fraction of a civilized planet.
 

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