Certain classes of higher dimensional models suggest that the Casimir effect is a candidate for the cosmological constant. In this paper we demonstrate that a sufficiently advanced civilization could, in principal, manipulate the radius of the extra dimension to locally adjust the value of the cosmological constant. This adjustment could be tuned to generate an expansion/contraction of spacetime around a spacecraft creating an exotic form of field-propulsion. Due to the fact that spacetime expansion itself is not restricted by relativity, a faster-than-light ‘warp drive’ could be created. Calculations of the energy requirements of such a drive are performed and an ‘ultimate’ speed limit, based on the Planckian limits on the size of the extra dimensions is found.

The basic idea is to formulate a solution to Einstein’s equations whereby a warp bubble is driven by a local expansion of spacetime behind the bubble and a contraction ahead of the bubble. The aim of this paper is to suggest that a warp bubble could be generated using ideas and mathematics from quantum field theory, and to hypothesize how such a bubble could be created by a sufficiently advanced technology. [.......]


[......]We have proposed that a sufficiently advanced civilization could utilize this relation to generate a localized expansion/contraction of spacetime creating a ‘warp bubble’ in which to travel at arbitrarily high velocities. One vital aspect of future research would be how to locally manipulate an extra dimension. String theory suggests that dimensions are globally held compact by strings wrapping around them [5], [8]. If this is indeed the case, then it may be possible to even locally increase or decrease the string tension, or even locally counter the effects of some string winding modes. This would achieve the desired effect of changing the size of the extra dimensions which would lead to propulsion under this model. It would thus be prudent to research this area further and perform calculations as to the energies required to affect an extra dimension and to try and relate this energy to the acceleration a spacecraft might experience.

Wormholes, time machines, and the weak energy condition

Authors: Morris, Michael S.; Thorne, Kip S.; Yurtsever, Ulvi
Affiliation: AA(California Institute of Technology, Pasadena), AB(California Institute of Technology, Pasadena) AC(California Institute of Technology, Pasadena)
Publication: Physical Review Letters, vol. 61, Sept. 26, 1988

Fundamental limitations on "warp drive" spacetimes

Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc);
Journal reference: Class.Quant.Grav. 21 (2004) 5871-5892

This suggested the possibility of effectively enabling a vehicle to move across enormous stellar distances in a short transit time, allowing the warp bubble interior as well as a vehicle located within to be moved through spacetime faster than the speed of light with respect to the distant universe. That is to say, within the warp field the speed of light limit has been raised so that locally the vehicle does not violate the central tenet of special relativity.

Since this seminal paper around 50 publications have appeared internationally on the topic demonstrating that academic interest in the ‘warp drive’ proposal is growing. In the first decade of research several technical physics obstacles have been identified towards making the warp drive a realistic proposal for interstellar travel. In particular, calculations show that physically enormous and unobtainable amounts of negative energy are required to generate the desired geometrical warpage. In an effort to generate interest in solving some of the technical problems a symposium is being organised with the intention of focussing on four main themes: The Current Status of the Warp Drive Proposal; Quantum Field Constraints; Photon Propagation through the Warp Field; Alternative Faster than Light Drives. Where the latter may be based upon alternative versions of Einstein’s gravity such as Brans-Dicke theory or Yilmaz theory, or based upon alternative suggestions for interstellar travel such as the Krasnikov tube and wormholes.

Confirmed Speakers

Casimir Energy: A Fuel for Traversable Wormholes
Remo Garattini, Bergamo University, Italy

Computer Tensor Codes to Design the Warp Drive
Claudio Maccone, International Academy of Astronautics

Warp Drive: From Imagination to Reality
Jeremy Gardiner

The Status of the Warp Drive
Kelvin Long

Warp Drive: A New Approach
Richard K. Obousy & Gerald Cleaver, Department of Physics, Baylor University, Texas

Warp Drives in Cosmology
Pedro F. González-Díaz, Instituto de Física Fundamental “Blas Cabrera”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain

Can the Flyby Anomalies be Explained by a Modification of Inertia
M.E. McCulloch

Space Teleportation with Present Day Technology (Poster)
Yvan Bozzonetti

Top 10: Controversial pieces of evidence for extraterrestrial life

1. 1976, The Viking Mars landers detect chemical signatures indicative of life

2. 1977, The unexplained extraterrestrial "Wow!" signal is detected by an Ohio State University radio telescope

3. 1996, Martian "fossils" are discovered in meteorite ALH80041 from Antarctica

4. 2001, A more rigorous estimate of the "Drake equation" suggests that our galaxy may contain hundreds of thousands of life-bearing planets

5. 2001, The red tinge of Jupiter's moon Europa proposed to be due to frozen bits of bacteria, which also helps explain the mysterious infrared signal it gives off

6. 2002, Russian scientists argue that a mysterious radiation-proof microbe may have evolved on Mars

7. 2002, Chemical hints of life are found in old data from Venus probes and landers. Could microbes exist in Venusian clouds?

8. 2003, Sulphur traces on Jupiter's moon Europa may be the waste products of underground bacterial colonies

9. 2004, Methane in the Martian atmosphere hints at microbial metabolism

10. 2004, A mysterious radio signal is received by the SETI project on three occasions - from the same region of space

Originally posted by dobsonion2
Fermi paradox states that our size galaxy could be colonized in 50 million years without faster then light travel. And our galaxy is half the age of the big bang. It should have been colonized thousands of times over. So where are they? Thats the question you should be trying to solve instead of calling people ignorant.

Originally posted by yahn goodey
reply to post by mrwupy

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eventually we will zip thru the universe like its our own home town ----scary is'nt it ?/yes very scary-----------almost every day there are 1 or 2 collisions between cars now in my town of 10 thousand. for your future will the same drivers be navigating their way around the stars ? yes very scary.sure hope they make licensing a lot tougher to keep the drunks /druggies/road ragers and crazies from flying thru the universe.