This interview with theoretical physicist dr michio kaku explains more. Alcubierre s theory of a warp drive, translight propulsion model, is right out of pages of star trek. While superluminal, this is often brought up as an argument why such a drive, even if it were to turn out to be viable and. Michio kaku is an american theoretical physicist, best known as one of the founders of string field theory. Michio kaku is a professor of physics at the city university of new york, cofounder of string field theory, and the author of several widely acclaimed science books, including hyperspace, beyond einstein. By a purely local expansion of spacetime behind the spaceship and an opposite contraction in front of it, motion faster than the speed of light as seen by observers outside the. The alcubierre drive, alcubierre warp drive, or alcubierre metric referring to metric tensor is a speculative idea based on a solution of einsteins field equations in general relativity as proposed by. And alcubierre got a solution that looked very similar to warp drive. Every now and then, its claimed that the alcubierre drive has an upper speed limit.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. Popsci talks to futurist michio kaku about the not necessarily impossible. Update the question so its ontopic for physics stack exchange. The universe in a nutshell full presentation big think duration. Will the alcubierre drive proposed by miguel alcubierre ever. Michio kaku is an american theoretical physicist, the henry semat professor of theoretical physics in the city college of new york of city university of new york, a futurist, and a communicator and popularizer of science. Michio kaku discusses faster than light travel with warp. A ringshaped warp drive device could transport a footballshape starship center to effective speeds faster than light. Episodes are replete with references to tachyon beams, baryon sweeps, quantum fluctuations and event. Miguel alcubierre was inspired by star trek the next. Using the advantages to make a clean minimal font, it works for a variety. We travel beyond our galaxy, and even beyond our universe, as kaku investigates some of the hottest topics in science today, including warp drive, wormholes. Using the advantages to make a clean minimal font, it works for a variety of uses. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an.
Discovery channels michio kaku interviewed theoretical physicist, miguel alcubierre moya who has found a way to travel fasterthanlight ftl without violating the einsteins theory of relativity the so called alcubierre drive. Jan 20, 2017 in physics, it is what is known as the alcubierre warp drive. A simple explanation of how a real warp drive could work asteronx in this video we discuss how warp drives work. In other words, negative mass or energy is essential for both the alcubierre drive and the wormhole solution. You might one day be able to send the experience of dancing the tango, bungee jumping, or skydiving to the people on your email list. Click here to start a new topic please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes new to wikipedia. Is time travel to the past possible with the warp drive. Physicist michio kaku has already probed the neuroscientific frontiers of the human mindincluding telekinesis, telepathy, and dreams. In physics of the impossible, the renowned physicist michio kaku explores to what extent the technologies.
American scientist kip thorne first described the idea that wormholes could be used for time travel in 1985. Jul 02, 2018 theoretical physicist michio kaku is already well known to the public through his bestselling books and social media. Michio kaku, is an advanced scientist, who is well known from his appearances in numerous of discovery channel documentaries. An explanation of the alcubierrewhite warp drive youtube. Sep 17, 2012 a ringshaped warp drive device could transport a footballshape starship center to effective speeds faster than light. The alcubierre drive works by moving space around your ship. Maximum caps on bandying about theory in physics, relativity and string theory, the theory of everything, decoherence and the wave function of the universe, the large hadron collider, detecting sparticles, how journalists are. A scientific guide to shortcuts through time and space ebook written by allen everett, thomas roman.
Will the alcubierre drive proposed by miguel alcubierre. One theoretical method that has been proposed to cover vast distances in space is the alcubierre drive, which kaku described as a device that would eliminate the space between an. Little is known about the interactions between massive particles and the alcubierre warp drive, or the e. If so, an alcubierre drive is simply a question of energy and engineering. Alcubierre warp drive ftl spacewarp solution einsteins equations general relativity published in the november1996. Alcubierre 1 and others have shown how a suitable shaping of spacetime curvature can be used to generate a warp bubble, where the contents of the bubble can be transported to arbitrarily large. A wormhole is a hypothetical hole in space that connects to another point in time. The alcubierre drive is, of course, still highly speculative. I think some of michio kaku s popularlevel books may discuss the alcubierre drive. The technology in star trek has borrowed freely from the scientific world to provide storylines. Alcubierre is known for the proposed alcubierre drive, a speculative warp. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the alcubierre drive article. Named after theoretical physicist miguel alcubierre. But the repulsive force of negative energy or negative mass could conceivably keep the throat open sufficiently long to allow astronauts a clear passage.
Alternate view column av81 university of washington. Warp drives may come with a killer downside universe today. Alcubierre is known for the proposed alcubierre drive, a speculative warp drive by which a spacecraft could achieve fasterthanlight travel. Nasa scientists are working with smallscale models in an effort to produce localized distortions in space, but this new aussie. Discovery channels michio kaku interviewed theoretical physicist, miguel alcubierre moya who has found a way to travel fasterthanlight ftl without violating the einsteins theory of relativity the so. In physics, it is what is known as the alcubierre warp drive. My first foray into michio kaku s world having just listened to brian greens the elegant universe and his case for string theory and mtheory, the bold theoretical attempts to integrate einsteins generalspecial relativity with quantum physics while also incorporating gravity, my occasional urge to understand the macro and micro principles of the universe, from quarks to blackholes, multiple. This is one of the easier reads, in terms of just mental processing, but if you enjoy this book, id highly recommend michio kaku s book hyperspace. Nov 16, 2012 the alcubierre drive is, of course, still highly speculative.
The alcubierre drive works by moving space around your ship, not through acceleration. The alcubierre drive is a warp drive, dune uses a fold drive see holtzman drive xanmat 20. Dec 24, 2015 proposed by mexican theoretical physicist miguel alcubierre in 1994, the drive would propel a ship at superluminal speeds by creating a bubble of negative energy around it, expanding space and. Alcubierre is known for the proposed alcubierre drive, a speculative warp drive by which a spacecraft could achieve faster. Inspired by gene roddenberrys star trek, physicist miguel alcubierre set out to transform one of the cornerstones of science fiction. The concept was first proposed by mexican physicist miguel. My first foray into michio kakus world having just listened to brian greens the elegant universe and his case for string theory and mtheory, the bold theoretical attempts to integrate einsteins. Alcubierre drive plural alcubierre drives a hypothetical means of fasterthanlight propulsion, based on the controlled. The painful truth about nasas warp drive spaceship from a. Propulsao alcubierre wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. I guess what im asking rather is how fast can it go assuming we solve all the problems with it, not just the energy generation which, from my admittedly shallow understanding of it, i had thought to be the primary hurdle to. The alcubierre drive works by pulling on the space ahead of a ship and pushing on the back end of the ship.
He is a professor of theoretical physics in the city college of new york and cuny graduate center. Feb 16, 2017 a simple explanation of how a real warp drive could work asteronx in this video we discuss how warp drives work. Alcubierre typeface is available for free for commercial and personal use. The alcubierre drive, at its core, is just a deformation added on flat spacetime as a bump function it is everywhere flat except for a compact region of spacetime. Theres only one way to travel back in time according to physics, travel faster than light, and the only way, in theory, is to cheat using a warp drive. Let me try to put an explanation into laymans terms. This book, along with other michio kaku books have completely changed my perspective on the universe down to its very fundamentals. This column was written and submitted 41596 and is ed 1996 by john g. I have just modified 2 external links on alcubierre drive. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. Michio kaku is an american theoretical physicist, the henry semat professor of theoretical physics in the city college of new york of city university of new york, a futurist, and a communicator and. On paper, it is a highly speculative, but possibly valid, solution of the einstein field equations, specifically how space, time.
Miguel alcubierre moya born march 28, 1964 is a mexican theoretical physicist. The alcubierre warp drive allows a spaceship to travel at an arbitrarily large global velocity by deforming the spacetime in a bubble around the spaceship. He has published several books and hosts television specials and a weekly radio. A scientific guide to shortcuts through time and space on.
Nov 16, 2016 designed by matt ellis, alcubierre is a geometric sans serif typeface stepping in the foot prints the original font ikaros. The latter book is relevant because general relativity guarantees that any technology for fasterthanlight travel is also a technology for time travel. Internationally acclaimed physicist dr michio kaku holds the henry semat chair in theoretical physics at the city university of new york. As empty space behind your ship expands, your ship is pushed along, while space in front of you contract, pulling you even faster. Physics of the impossible, in which his warp bubble. On paper, it is a highly speculative, but possibly valid, solution of the einstein field equations, specifically how space, time and.
However, while this may be a or rather, another strike against the alcubierre drive, it doesnt really answer the question. The concept was first proposed by mexican physicist miguel alcubierre. Physics of the impossible by michio kaku goodreads. Sep 05, 2000 it is shown how, within the framework of general relativity and without the introduction of wormholes, it is possible to modify a spacetime in a way that allows a spaceship to travel with an arbitrarily large speed. Mar 25, 2018 one theoretical method that has been proposed to cover vast distances in space is the alcubierre drive, which kaku described as a device that would eliminate the space between an explorer and distant stars by compressing the space between you and the stars. Michio kaku that attempts to explain the possibility of tendimensional space using string theory minkowski spacetime, a concept, often referred to by science fiction writers as hyperspace, that refers to the fourdimensional spacetime of special relativity. In alcubierre drive, one can travel apparently faster than the speed of light by compressing space in front in the direction of travel.
Oct 28, 2015 inspired by gene roddenberrys star trek, physicist miguel alcubierre set out to transform one of the cornerstones of science fiction iconography, the warp drive, into reality. The alcubierre warp drive is a very interesting arena for thought experiments to try to better understand general relativity and quantum field theory, but it should give you zero hope for actually. Dec 22, 2009 the latter book is relevant because general relativity guarantees that any technology for fasterthanlight travel is also a technology for time travel. Theoretical physicist michio kaku is already well known to the public through his bestselling books and social media. Michio kaku quotes author of physics of the impossible. The alcubierre drive, alcubierre warp drive, or alcubierre metric referring to metric tensor is a speculative idea based on a solution of einsteins field equations in general relativity as proposed by theoretical physicist miguel alcubierre, by which a spacecraft could achieve apparent fasterthanlight travel if a configurable energydensity field lower than that of vacuum that is. This deformation moves around, and there are no upper speeds dictated by general relativity. Michio kaku that attempts to explain the possibility of tendimensional. Terraforming mars, interstellar travel, immortality, and our destiny beyond earth by kaku, michio isbn. My own warp drive spacetime is only a minor variant of alcubierre s construction, but some of the other proposals are significantly different.
It is shown how, within the framework of general relativity and without the introduction of wormholes, it is possible to modify a spacetime in a way that allows a spaceship to travel with an. Harold sonny white nasa johnson space center 2101 nasa parkway, mc ep4 houston, tx 77058 email. In particular, some of the constructions which have been mentioned on this talk page are significantly different globally from my construction and the original alcubierre construction discussed in this. Designed by matt ellis, alcubierre is a geometric sans serif typeface stepping in the foot prints the original font ikaros. His latest book tackles the options for human society thriving. Its a similar idea to the hypothetical alcubierre drive, proposed by theoretical physicist, miguel alcubierre. Warp drive more possible than thought, scientists say space.
1186 866 202 1218 887 463 913 596 159 659 502 894 1392 385 1142 658 1232 1027 27 569 719 816 114 613 658 261 78 1011 399 834 1382 1499 1221 1417 1102 1189 942 892 712 1083 1497 949 1488