Can Light Hook or Tether Enable Faster Than Light Travel?

[jaspatrick]

Light "hook" or tether..?

Hello! Simply a fan and not a scientist; so forgive if this has been asked or is simplistic--onward he queries!
I've read about the warp bubble and some ideas for faster than light travel (fascinating stuff, obviously); but my question is regarding the possibility of some sort of tether or hook in which to have light pull/push "us" along?
Obviously a laser probe or other light based probe would already travel that quickly; but what about a microscopic probe/nanobot or an unmanned satellite, etc. Is there some theoretical way in which to piggyback or lasso light/lasers?
Maybe some sort of sail or hood to be used as... well a sail?
Am I making sense or did a brain cell expire more colorfully than usual?
Thanks in advance and apologies again if this is more of a hollywood blockbuster idea.
Cheers!

 

[LBrandt]

I'm not a scientist either, but no matter what "technique" you employ, no object containing mass can be accelerated to c (light velocity), much less exceed it.

 

[jaspatrick]

I'm not a scientist either, but no matter what "technique" you employ, no object containing mass can be accelerated to c (light velocity), much less exceed it.

There seem to be some ideas out there that while this may be true now; it may not always be so... Not exactly what I asked either; but hey, no worries! Original question stands--I am curious about the tether, pulling/pushing method specifically. Are there any ideas along those lines or would it be scientifically proven impossible? Is there any theoretical plausibility to harnessing light to push/pull along with it--even on a tiny scale?
Thanks in advance!

 

[russ_watters]

Welcome to PF.

What you are suggesting sounds vaguely like a solar sail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_sail

It is a valid and potentially viable source of propulsion for spacecraft .

 

[LBrandt]

Yes, but a solar sail does not purport to be able to accelerate a mass to light velocity.

 

[jaspatrick]

Yes, I had actually read a bit about solar sails; I kind of piggy backed off that idea and was curious about how fast it could pull or push one along and would this type of idea or similar idea get us close to light speed travel? If it is the light itself's speed, would that side step the need to "accelerate" said object? Specifically, I am thinking very very small--nanobot of some sort, etc. (To be used as a deep space probe)

 

[jaspatrick]

Oh, my apologies, thank you for the welcome and I am very glad to be here! It is very reassuring to see so many folks taking advantage and spreading such valuable information. Cheers to all involved!