sci.physics.particle

On Feb 8, 8:29 am, oldcoot wrote:
> All the brainstorming about multi-generational 'sleeper ships'
> traveling at some fraction of the speed of light is pretty
> hairbrained. To begin with, it's predicated on space being a 'void-
> nothing'.

I've never stipulated that space was any sort of void. At 0.1'c'
you'd have to avoid coming in contact with a common dust bunny.

> Any rartional approach to interstellar travel will
> have to get over the void-space notion, and recognize space as a
> *literal* medium that's amenable to literal expansion/compression. And
> it will exploit that very property of space. Thus far, the principle
> has been *described* mathematically while still operating under the
> void-space mandate. Such a description is seen here -http://www.zamandayolculuk.com/cetinbal/warpDrivesx.htm

The Alcubierre Drive and "Surfing a Warp Bubble" looks interesting.

>
> While Alucubierre is still a Void-Spacer, he mathematically
> *describes* how a literal Warp Drive would work. He's like a radio
> engineer drawing out the schematic for an advanced type of radio
> system while the *power supply* for the system has yet to be
> conceived. Being a VS'er, he doesn't 'get' the fact that the sub-
> Planckian energy density _of space itself_ is more than sufficient to
> power his system. Its energy equivalence has been fancifully expressed
> as "E=mc^3". The methodology to tap that energy has yet to be
> conceived.
> So we're sorta in the position of a 15th century
> sailor pondering the workings of a nuclear aircraft carrier. :-) oc

But still, until we can safely utilize antimatter, a good enough ion
propulsion drive should be capable of giving us 0.1'c'.
. - Brad Guth