Could gravity be used to send light speed signals?

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the theoretical use of gravity signals for communication over interstellar distances, specifically a scenario involving a spaceship 5 light years from Earth attempting to send a signal through a dense cloud of interstellar dust. Participants clarify that while gravitational waves exist and can propagate at the speed of light, generating them through a thermonuclear explosion is ineffective due to the spherical symmetry of such explosions. The conversation emphasizes that gravitational fields are not influenced by relativistic mass as commonly misunderstood, but rather by the stress-energy tensor, which includes momentum and pressure. Ultimately, the consensus is that using gravitational waves for communication is theoretically possible but not feasible with current methods.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational waves and their properties
  • Familiarity with the stress-energy tensor in general relativity
  • Knowledge of the limitations of thermonuclear explosions in generating gravitational waves
  • Basic principles of relativistic physics and mass-energy equivalence
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanisms of gravitational wave generation, particularly in binary systems
  • Study the LIGO experiment and its findings on gravitational waves
  • Explore the implications of the stress-energy tensor in general relativity
  • Investigate alternative communication methods using neutrinos and their advantages over gravitational signals
USEFUL FOR

Astrophysicists, theoretical physicists, and anyone interested in advanced concepts of communication in space, particularly those exploring the limits of general relativity and gravitational wave technology.

  • #31
There's also viscosity and friction due to the strong force. It's under vigorous study in the heavy-ion-collision community to learn about the strong interaction and the phase diagram of strongly interacing (QCD) matter.:smile:
 
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