- #1
DIYEngine235
- 14
- 4
This is a theoretical FTL drive system that I'm developing for a sci-fi novel. This may be a little convoluted so brace yourselves.
First, I'm assuming that most of the current theoretical understanding of astrophysics is either wrong or incomplete, and possibly over complicated, not unlike aero-physics was prior to 1902 with lots of theories but little to no proof, so I'm fully acknowledging that from the start. I'm also basing this theory on the belief that the universe functions much more simply that what is assumed, on the grounds the Newton managed to simplify all the complex theories of motion into three simple laws. And finally, that there is a bit of scalability/replicability between different mediums of science, such as when Ben Franklin likened electricity moving through a wire to water moving through a pipe or current. Following me so far?
Now, here is where things get more theoretical. I'm postulating that a photon is a fourth order dimensional substance that bridges the gap between matter and energy. (H.G. Wells fans may recognize this a bit.) Following the idea that a point is a null (0) order, a line with one dimension is a first order, a square with two dimensions is a second order, and a cube is of the third order, I theorize that the fourth order must be a photon. I further add that because there is a relationship between the mass of an object and a limit to the velocity of that based on the speed of light, that there is a force acting on that object to oppose further acceleration. With me so far? That force could, therefore, be described as photonic resistance. As in, photons are providing a resistance force that prevents mass from accelerating to superluminal speeds or FTL.
That is, photons bridge the gap between matter and energy at a higher order, having properties of both, but also lacking properties of both, while also interacting with both.
Still following?
Therefore, in order to achieve FTL speeds, you must either remove the photonic resistance and/or use it to accelerate a mass body. I was inspired to this theory by hydrofoil watercraft. The hydrofoil works by removing the majority of the resistance of the water from the body of the boat/ship. Under the fourth order photon theory, this is possible... sort of. This is a sci-fi novel after all.
Here's the gist. Say a ship the size of a C-130 wanted to go from point A to point B, only the distance is about 100 lightyears with dozens of stars in between. The photon foils would allow this to happen by generating a field that would not only repel photons but also accelerate or move them to the rear. Physics being equal and opposite, this would accelerate the ship. As always, there are a few caveats of course.
In order to work, the photon-foil, like the hydrofoil, much achieve a minimum velocity in order to reduce the photonic resistance and before the foil-fields could be used to accelerate the ship to achieve FTL speeds. i.e. your basic main fusion drive of most classic sci-fi space novels. Once a minimum velocity is achieved, photonic resistance drops, and acceleration increased by the photon field projected by the foils forcing protons towards the rear of the ship or pulling the ship to the photons. The jury is still out on which is more accurate. Either way, the ship accelerates.
The photon foils themselves would resemble foils on water or aircraft, though vessels that won't enter atmospheres would have permanent mounts while vessels that would enter atmospheres would have retractable foils. The foils would have to be positioned away from the hull body to allow for a photon-controlling field to be generated.
In my theoretical model, a ship the size of C-130 could achieve speeds equivalent to 30 lightyears per day. I admit, I used Grok to come up with the model, but it seems to work, provided power is generated reliably.
My theoretical model also includes varying photon densities. Stars, of course, would have high density, but the areas between stars would as well, such as where the photons projected by two stars would meet/overlap. These paths would allow for greater efficiency in acceleration without being in a star system.
Rant alert!
I will warn the commenters right now, if anybody tells me that I need to make something glow that isn't a display screen or lightbulb, I will tell them where they can put that glow. That's a particular sci-fi trope I hate.
I get it, for movies and TV, you need to have something to catch the attention. Having a reactor core in the middle of an open space with next to no shielding or protection for the engineering crew, that flashes red when it's about to explode is much more exciting compared to encasing it in a separate, heavily shielded and safe, tube where it can't be seen so it can be easily and safely ejected from a ship before it destroys the ship and without killing the entire engineering crew.
As I said, I get it for a movie or budget sci-fi TV show, but in a novel, there's absolutely no reason why an alien rifle/weapon meant to be used stealthily would glow in the dark!!!
Rant over.
Anyways, I just wanted to get this out there and see if this idea has any real foundation or believable. I see all sorts of warp drives, wormholes or even teleportation FTLs out there, but I wanted something more unique for my novel.
I am always open to ways to improve my FTL physics model to make it more believable.
First, I'm assuming that most of the current theoretical understanding of astrophysics is either wrong or incomplete, and possibly over complicated, not unlike aero-physics was prior to 1902 with lots of theories but little to no proof, so I'm fully acknowledging that from the start. I'm also basing this theory on the belief that the universe functions much more simply that what is assumed, on the grounds the Newton managed to simplify all the complex theories of motion into three simple laws. And finally, that there is a bit of scalability/replicability between different mediums of science, such as when Ben Franklin likened electricity moving through a wire to water moving through a pipe or current. Following me so far?
Now, here is where things get more theoretical. I'm postulating that a photon is a fourth order dimensional substance that bridges the gap between matter and energy. (H.G. Wells fans may recognize this a bit.) Following the idea that a point is a null (0) order, a line with one dimension is a first order, a square with two dimensions is a second order, and a cube is of the third order, I theorize that the fourth order must be a photon. I further add that because there is a relationship between the mass of an object and a limit to the velocity of that based on the speed of light, that there is a force acting on that object to oppose further acceleration. With me so far? That force could, therefore, be described as photonic resistance. As in, photons are providing a resistance force that prevents mass from accelerating to superluminal speeds or FTL.
That is, photons bridge the gap between matter and energy at a higher order, having properties of both, but also lacking properties of both, while also interacting with both.
Still following?
Therefore, in order to achieve FTL speeds, you must either remove the photonic resistance and/or use it to accelerate a mass body. I was inspired to this theory by hydrofoil watercraft. The hydrofoil works by removing the majority of the resistance of the water from the body of the boat/ship. Under the fourth order photon theory, this is possible... sort of. This is a sci-fi novel after all.
Here's the gist. Say a ship the size of a C-130 wanted to go from point A to point B, only the distance is about 100 lightyears with dozens of stars in between. The photon foils would allow this to happen by generating a field that would not only repel photons but also accelerate or move them to the rear. Physics being equal and opposite, this would accelerate the ship. As always, there are a few caveats of course.
In order to work, the photon-foil, like the hydrofoil, much achieve a minimum velocity in order to reduce the photonic resistance and before the foil-fields could be used to accelerate the ship to achieve FTL speeds. i.e. your basic main fusion drive of most classic sci-fi space novels. Once a minimum velocity is achieved, photonic resistance drops, and acceleration increased by the photon field projected by the foils forcing protons towards the rear of the ship or pulling the ship to the photons. The jury is still out on which is more accurate. Either way, the ship accelerates.
The photon foils themselves would resemble foils on water or aircraft, though vessels that won't enter atmospheres would have permanent mounts while vessels that would enter atmospheres would have retractable foils. The foils would have to be positioned away from the hull body to allow for a photon-controlling field to be generated.
In my theoretical model, a ship the size of C-130 could achieve speeds equivalent to 30 lightyears per day. I admit, I used Grok to come up with the model, but it seems to work, provided power is generated reliably.
My theoretical model also includes varying photon densities. Stars, of course, would have high density, but the areas between stars would as well, such as where the photons projected by two stars would meet/overlap. These paths would allow for greater efficiency in acceleration without being in a star system.
Rant alert!
I will warn the commenters right now, if anybody tells me that I need to make something glow that isn't a display screen or lightbulb, I will tell them where they can put that glow. That's a particular sci-fi trope I hate.
I get it, for movies and TV, you need to have something to catch the attention. Having a reactor core in the middle of an open space with next to no shielding or protection for the engineering crew, that flashes red when it's about to explode is much more exciting compared to encasing it in a separate, heavily shielded and safe, tube where it can't be seen so it can be easily and safely ejected from a ship before it destroys the ship and without killing the entire engineering crew.
As I said, I get it for a movie or budget sci-fi TV show, but in a novel, there's absolutely no reason why an alien rifle/weapon meant to be used stealthily would glow in the dark!!!
Rant over.
Anyways, I just wanted to get this out there and see if this idea has any real foundation or believable. I see all sorts of warp drives, wormholes or even teleportation FTLs out there, but I wanted something more unique for my novel.
I am always open to ways to improve my FTL physics model to make it more believable.
Last edited by a moderator:
