Warping Space in a Craft: Gravity or Conventional Energy?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of warping space within a spacecraft, emphasizing that any mass can warp spacetime due to its gravitational influence, as established by Einstein's General Relativity (GR). It highlights that energy, regardless of its source—be it gravitational or conventional (electrical, chemical)—can contribute to this warping effect. Notable warp drive concepts mentioned include the Alcubierre drive, which requires significant negative energy, and the Van den Broeck warp drive, which offers a more feasible alternative with reduced energy requirements. The Casimir effect is also referenced as a potential method for achieving negative energy densities necessary for spacetime manipulation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity (GR) principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of negative energy densities
  • Knowledge of warp drive theories, specifically the Alcubierre and Van den Broeck drives
  • Basic grasp of quantum mechanics and the Casimir effect
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Alcubierre drive and its requirements for negative energy
  • Explore the Van den Broeck warp drive and its advantages over the Alcubierre drive
  • Study the Casimir effect and its implications for negative energy generation
  • Investigate practical applications of spacetime warping in theoretical physics
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for physicists, aerospace engineers, and enthusiasts interested in theoretical physics, particularly those exploring advanced propulsion methods and the implications of spacetime manipulation.

Bunting
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it is saidf that if you have a mass large enough, the gravity created by that mass is enough to warp space. Now people are saying that due to quantum mechanics the warping of space is viable, within a spacecraft for example. Does this require the spaceship to have some sorty of gravity generator ? producing gravitons and the such, or does it mean that conventional energy as we have it(electrical, chemical etc) can also be used to warp space ?

thanks!
 
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the warping of spacetime is quite general. it doesn t require you to have a generator, or even be a quantum system. all you have to do is have energy, and then, by einstein, you will gravitate.
 
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It should also be mentioned that "a mass large enough" and "the gravity created by that mass would be enough" are conditions satisfied by any mass with any gravity (which according to GR is any mass), since that's what gravity is; the warping of spacetime (again, according to GR).
 
ohh i see, like the sun and planets on a net model. The heavier the object the more the net (or spacetime) bends (or warps!)! :)

Thanks a lot :)
 
I believe there is another way to warp spacetime using the principles of the casimir effect using negative energy densities. I found this in S.W.Hawking's "Brief History of Time 12th anniv. Edition" pg 164-165
 
The warping of spacetime can have interesting applications. For example, consider the Krasnikov tube, a proposed method to achieve faster than light travel
 
More warp drive stuff: the Alcubierre drive is probably the most famous of all the warp drives, but it requires high quantities of negative energy, so it's practically an impossible project. But, in 1999, Van den Broeck presented another warp drive, the Van den Broeck warp drive, that improves the Alcubierre drive because it requires less negative energy
Here's the paper where Van den Broeck proposed his warp drive
http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/gr-qc/9905084
 
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Is it a mistake to suggest that mass and energy are equivalent, (E=MC sq). Anything less than the energy produced by a fusion reactor, could not warp space.Perhaps with, "time", maybe. A graviton? Warp drive?Too soon to consider, nomenclature like that. Compress space in advance of progress,riding the "warp",like surfing on a wave board. Space itself would cause the "drive" as it is, space that "pushes" you as toward a planet as if you were in an orbit.
 
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