New Mars Forums

Official discussion forum of The Mars Society and MarsNews.com

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Announcement: As a reader of NewMars forum, we have opportunities for you to assist with technical discussions in several initiatives underway. NewMars needs volunteers with appropriate education, skills, talent, motivation and generosity of spirit as a highly valued member. Write to newmarsmember * gmail.com to tell us about your ability's to help contribute to NewMars and become a registered member.

#1 2014-11-01 15:46:44

RobertDyck
Moderator
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-20
Posts: 7,782
Website

Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Alcubierre drive requires a mass in front of the spacecraft, and negative mass behind. Positive gravity pulls the spacecraft, negative gravity pushes. So how do we create negative matter?

This isn't antimatter; that's just matter with reverse charge. Anti-protons have negative charge, anti-electrons called positrons have positive charge. But negative matter is different; it's composed of negative energy. Theoretically that's created spontaneously by virtual particle pairs. In the quantum foam at level of the Planck constant, a pair of subatomic particles may spontaneously form from nothing. Because positive energy of the normal matter particle is cancelled by negative energy of the negative matter particle, they have zero net energy and zero net mass. Again theoretically, these particles pairs form constantly but recombine in a fraction of a second to cancel each other out. This isn't like a matter/antimatter reaction. If a matter particle contacts an antimatter particle, then both undergo instantaneous mass to energy conversion, so 100% mass of both particles to energy. But since negative matter is composed of negative energy, when a matter and negative matter particle recombine, they cancel with nothing to show. No explosion, no emission, nothing.

But if we could separate them, then we could produce negative matter. Theoretically, this is the only way to create negative matter. Again theoretically, that could be done with the Casimir effect. As far as I know, no one has done this. No physicist as demonstrated that negative matter or negative energy exist. So how do we do that?

Offline

#2 2014-11-01 18:31:43

Tom Kalbfus
Banned
Registered: 2006-08-16
Posts: 4,401

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

RobertDyck wrote:

Alcubierre drive requires a mass in front of the spacecraft, and negative mass behind. Positive gravity pulls the spacecraft, negative gravity pushes. So how do we create negative matter?

This isn't antimatter; that's just matter with reverse charge. Anti-protons have negative charge, anti-electrons called positrons have positive charge. But negative matter is different; it's composed of negative energy. Theoretically that's created spontaneously by virtual particle pairs. In the quantum foam at level of the Planck constant, a pair of subatomic particles may spontaneously form from nothing. Because positive energy of the normal matter particle is cancelled by negative energy of the negative matter particle, they have zero net energy and zero net mass. Again theoretically, these particles pairs form constantly but recombine in a fraction of a second to cancel each other out. This isn't like a matter/antimatter reaction. If a matter particle contacts an antimatter particle, then both undergo instantaneous mass to energy conversion, so 100% mass of both particles to energy. But since negative matter is composed of negative energy, when a matter and negative matter particle recombine, they cancel with nothing to show. No explosion, no emission, nothing.

But if we could separate them, then we could produce negative matter. Theoretically, this is the only way to create negative matter. Again theoretically, that could be done with the Casimir effect. As far as I know, no one has done this. No physicist as demonstrated that negative matter or negative energy exist. So how do we do that?

What if we created negative matter magnetic monopoles? Those are massive particles! Yo ca create extremely dense objects out of monopoles, if they have negative mass, a proton that comes in contact with one will decay and convert to energy, but not enough energy to cancel out the negative mass monopole. Seems to me that monopoles would be just the thing needed for warp drives, the positive ones can be made into a black hole, the negative ones can be held together by their magnetic fields. remember that like magnetic charges repell, but with negative masses a push is a pull, so a whole clump of like charged monopoles will ball together by their magnetic fields, even as there gravitational field repels them. One could definitely make a negative matter drive with this if not a full fledged warp drive, that is at least worth something!

Offline

#3 2014-11-11 06:58:57

Quaoar
Member
Registered: 2013-12-13
Posts: 652

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

AS a SF writer, I have a question on FTL drive to the experts of this forum: Alcubierre Drive (or any other hypothetical FTL-drive) will alter the position of our spaceship, but not her linear momentum (if not it will be an absurd reactionless drive): so if I use the AD to move from a star system to another, I have to match the relative velocity between the star systems with conventional rockets. It's correct?

Offline

#4 2014-11-11 18:31:00

Tom Kalbfus
Banned
Registered: 2006-08-16
Posts: 4,401

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Quaoar wrote:

AS a SF writer, I have a question on FTL drive to the experts of this forum: Alcubierre Drive (or any other hypothetical FTL-drive) will alter the position of our spaceship, but not her linear momentum (if not it will be an absurd reactionless drive): so if I use the AD to move from a star system to another, I have to match the relative velocity between the star systems with conventional rockets. It's correct?

That seems reasonable, but you can accelerate with a straight negative matter drive, this requires less negative matter than a warp drive, about as much mass of the negative persuasion as the mass of the starship. Negative matter has negative inertia and mass, so the positive mass ship can push on the negative matter, and the negative matter will pull in the same direction that the starship is pushing, and the two will accelerate in one direction without gaining net kinetic energy, because as the positive mass increases velocity its kinetic energy will increase, so too will the negative matter's kinetic energy decrease as it increases its velocity, the two balance out.

Offline

#5 2014-11-11 18:58:55

RobertDyck
Moderator
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-20
Posts: 7,782
Website

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Alcubierre Drive works by stretching the "fabric" of space. (Or dimensions of space.) It stretches, then compresses, so the small bubble of space the ship resides within moves relative to the universe. That means the ship does not experience acceleration. So it does not experience change of velocity. So yes, it will continue to move at the same speed and direction as before "warp drive" engaged.

If you build a "warp ring" in Earth orbit to carry a DreamChaser to Mars orbit, then be very careful about orbit before departing. Because Earth has greater gravity, an orbit with the same velocity will be much lower altitude. And to go from circular orbit to circular orbit, you have to depart Earth when a direct line from Earth to Mars is pendicular to Earth. And arrival will be will be perpendicular to Mars. That means you better steer correctly. Failure to stop will pass Mars without impact, but if you're aim is off then you could impact Mars. If you aim directly at Mars instead of Mars orbit, then warp drive will disengage when the ship is within the planet. That means impact at warp speed.

I suppose you could disengage warp drive a little early. That would result in falling into an eliptical orbit. But apoapsis will be higher from Mars than that point. Velocity will be toward Mars, so periapsis will be much lower altitude, but velocity will have to fall to stop before coming around, so apoapsis will be higher.

Offline

#6 2014-11-23 03:55:59

Quaoar
Member
Registered: 2013-12-13
Posts: 652

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

RobertDyck wrote:

Alcubierre Drive works by stretching the "fabric" of space. (Or dimensions of space.) It stretches, then compresses, so the small bubble of space the ship resides within moves relative to the universe. That means the ship does not experience acceleration. So it does not experience change of velocity. So yes, it will continue to move at the same speed and direction as before "warp drive" engaged.

If you build a "warp ring" in Earth orbit to carry a DreamChaser to Mars orbit, then be very careful about orbit before departing. Because Earth has greater gravity, an orbit with the same velocity will be much lower altitude. And to go from circular orbit to circular orbit, you have to depart Earth when a direct line from Earth to Mars is pendicular to Earth. And arrival will be will be perpendicular to Mars. That means you better steer correctly. Failure to stop will pass Mars without impact, but if you're aim is off then you could impact Mars. If you aim directly at Mars instead of Mars orbit, then warp drive will disengage when the ship is within the planet. That means impact at warp speed.

I suppose you could disengage warp drive a little early. That would result in falling into an eliptical orbit. But apoapsis will be higher from Mars than that point. Velocity will be toward Mars, so periapsis will be much lower altitude, but velocity will have to fall to stop before coming around, so apoapsis will be higher.

May be interesting to note that there is a new theory, the Scale Symmetry, that expected some kind of primordial negative energy particles called "ghosts".

http://www.wired.com/2014/08/multiverse/

Many theorists consider ghosts a big flaw of Scale Symmetry, but even antimatter, initially, was considered a big flaw of Dirac's Quantum Field Theory. Dirac took it seriously and later antimatter was discovered.

Last edited by Quaoar (2014-11-23 03:57:20)

Offline

#7 2016-06-04 19:38:29

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

kbd512 wrote:
SpaceNut wrote:

Using how long satelites stay in orbit for life span

The average life span of a LEO satellite is approximately 5 years, but the average life span for a GEO satellite is approximately 8 years

and the quantity of gas bottles lofted to orbit for the depot we now have a bench mark to build support vehicles to make use of them other wise we have a very dangerous situation if they stay with any seperation between each of them and more so as a larger target for space junk to strike....

It would be to the benefit of everyone if NASA devoted more time and money to the Q-thruster technology.  If it doesn't work, we can always continue using reaction mass.  If it does work, then satellites will be self-deployed once in orbit.  Space junk will have a limited life in LEO before reentry occurs.  If there's even a chance of eliminating propellants for maneuvering and orbit changes, that opportunity should be vigorously pursued.  The potential cost savings is truly staggering and the reduction in the quantity of space junk floating around Earth will measurably reduce associated flight risks.


These are all the topics related to Faster than light, warp drive ect....
Relativity of light - light at light speed
Followup on the Heim Drive
WARP DRIVE, AHEM!
warp drive - futuristic, but possible?
E=mc²

Offline

#8 2016-06-04 19:54:21

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Human outer solar system exploration via Q-Thruster technology

Propulsion technology development efforts at the NASA Johnson Space Center continue to advance the understanding of the quantum vacuum plasma thruster (Q-Thruster), a form of electric propulsion. Through the use of electric and magnetic fields, a Q-thruster pushes quantum particles (electrons/positrons) in one direction, while the Q-thruster recoils to conserve momentum.

Nasa validates 'impossible' space drive

Either the results are completely wrong, or Nasa has confirmed a major breakthrough in space propulsion.
British scientist Roger Shawyer has been trying to interest people in his EmDrive for some years through his company SPR Ltd. Shawyer claims the EmDrive converts electric power into thrust, without the need for any propellant by bouncing microwaves around in a closed container. He has built a number of demonstration systems, but critics reject his relativity-based theory and insist that, according to the law of conservation of momentum, it cannot work.

Engage! Warp Drive Could Become Reality with Quantum-Thruster Physics

Engage!_Warp_Drive_Could_Become-d000006dd98958a36040488eadea1b3f

A ring-shaped warp drive device could transport a football-shape starship (center) to effective speeds faster than light. A warp-drive-enabled spacecraft would look like a football with two large rings fully encircling it. The rings would utilize an exotic form of matter to cause space-time to contract in front of and expand behind them.

Advanced Propulsion Physics: Harnessing the Quantum Vacuum

A Q-thruster uses the same principles and equations of motion that a conventional plasma thruster would use, namely Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), to predict propellant behavior.
The virtual plasma is exposed to a crossed E and B-field which induces a plasma drift of the entire plasma in the ExB direction which is orthogonal to the applied fields. The difference arises in the fact that a Q-thruster uses quantum vacuum fluctuations as the fuel source eliminating the need to carry propellant.

Offline

#9 2016-06-04 20:00:33

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Well if I understand a magnetic field used to create a bubble lets the object within pass through space more easily. Just looking at the image reminds me that earth creates such a bubble and due to the mass of the earth we do not move faster than light....

Offline

#10 2016-06-04 20:40:32

Tom Kalbfus
Banned
Registered: 2006-08-16
Posts: 4,401

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

The fastest way to build a warp drive is to build an artificial intelligence that is superior to human intelligence and then figure out how to do it.

Offline

#11 2021-11-29 19:47:16

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,756

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

The key word I was looking for was "warp".  The article at the link below does indeed refer to the need for negative matter.  The ;point of the new research is to try to avoid the need for negative matter.  There are two solutions (mathematics).  One yields a result that is less than light speed, but it might be useful for travel in a Solar System.  The other appears to be able to exceed light speed.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/warp-drives- … 33579.html

The Conversation
Warp drives: Physicists give chances of faster-than-light space travel a boost
Mario Borunda, Associate Professor of Physics, Oklahoma State University
Sun, November 28, 2021, 1:33 PM

A sci-fi future?
Two recent papers – one by Alexey Bobrick and Gianni Martire and another by Erik Lentz – provide solutions that seem to bring warp drives closer to reality.

Bobrick and Martire realized that by modifying spacetime within the bubble in a certain way, they could remove the need to use negative energy. This solution, though, does not produce a warp drive that can go faster than light.

[Over 100,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.]

Independently, Lentz also proposed a solution that does not require negative energy. He used a different geometric approach to solve the equations of General Relativity, and by doing so, he found that a warp drive wouldn’t need to use negative energy. Lentz’s solution would allow the bubble to travel faster than the speed of light.

It is essential to point out that these exciting developments are mathematical models. As a physicist, I won’t fully trust models until we have experimental proof. Yet, the science of warp drives is coming into view. As a science fiction fan, I welcome all this innovative thinking. In the words of Captain Picard, things are only impossible until they are not.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Mario Borunda, Oklahoma State University.

(th)

Offline

#12 2021-12-11 11:00:52

RobertDyck
Moderator
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-20
Posts: 7,782
Website

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

Click image for video
YouTube:
sddefault.jpg

This is Dr. Harold Sonny White himself. He used to work for NASA, now works for Limitless Space Institute. He has been studying Casimir cavity geometry. He succeeded in creating a static warp bubble. It's only micron size so a loooooonnnnng way to go before we have warp spacecraft. But this is a very significant step.

Offline

#13 2022-05-28 20:25:41

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Offline

#14 2023-02-15 15:53:16

Mars_B4_Moon
Member
Registered: 2006-03-23
Posts: 8,896

Re: Negative Matter - key to Warp Drive

A Galaxy has Been Found that’s Almost Entirely Dark Matter

https://www.universetoday.com/160105/a- … rk-matter/

Online

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB