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How to Break the Light Barrier by AD 2079 University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Faculty and Staff Publications Mathematics 2010 BEGIN THE ADVENTURE : How to Break the Light Barrier by A.D. 2079 (3rd ed.) Florentin Smarandache University of New Mexico, [email protected] Homer B. Tilton Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/math_fsp Part of the Cosmology, Relativity, and Gravity Commons, External Galaxies Commons, Mathematics Commons, Other Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons, Physical Processes Commons, Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy Commons, and the The Sun and the Solar System Commons Recommended Citation H.B. Tilton & F. Smarandache (eds.) BEGIN THE ADVENTURE : How to Break the Light Barrier by A.D. 2079, 3rd ed. Tucson: Pima College Press, 2010 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Mathematics at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty and Staff Publications by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BeginAdventure3 - Cover:Layout 1 11/30/2009 3:50 PM Page 1 Begin the Adventure / How to Break the Light Barrier by A.D. 2079 (third edition) * Homer B. Tilton * Florentin Smarandache Tilton A.D. 2079 (third edition) * Homer B. Adventure / How to Break the Light Barrier by Begin the In 1905 Einstein found from relativity that there is anabsolute light barrier. He reiterated his “finden” in 1916, writing, “…We conclude that in the theory of relativity the velocity c plays the part of limiting velicity, which can neither be reached nore exceeded by any real body.” Poincaré and Lorentz did not share Einstein’s view of relativity in that regard. Nor, later, did Fermi and Teller it seems. There were others who hesitated to come forward. Then in a 1921 lecture and a 1922 look, “sidelights on Relativity,” Einstein wrote (pp. 35- 6), “Poincaré is right. The idea of the measuring-rod and the idea of the clock co-ordinated with it in the theory of relativity do not find their exact correspondence in the real world.” Thus the light barrier was questioned by the same man who erected it, and the last theoretical obstacle to practical star travel was mortally wounded but few noticed. There is still a conditional light barrier, but no longer one that is impenetrable. It became clear that the second postulate of special relavitity does not equate to an absolute light barrier as many continue to believe even to this day; some highly-regarded scientists continue to subscribe to this faulty logic: “I believe that special relativity is correct and consequently exceeding the speed of light [by] (just accelerating more and more) is impossible,” …Don Lincoln, Fermilab, email dated 3 Feb. 2005. Such statements reflect a misunderstanding of the second postulate. The key is that the second postulate applies to photons but not to rocketships; rocketships are not macrophotons as Sachs pointed out. In the September 1971 issue of the journal “Physics Today” Mendel Sachs wrote about Einstein’s 1921-22 “change of mind” as he referred to it, again in 1985, 1993 and at other times; but Sachs’ writings were scorned by other scientists. It was as if others wanted there to be a truly impenetrable light barrier perhaps because it seemed to hold open the exciting promise of time travel. The first author became aware of Sachs’ writings in 2004 and the two exchanged views for a time as reported here. This book presents a hard-science case for practical star travel. The first six chapters lay it all out in a logical and factual manner consistent with the theory of relativity. Chapters 7 & 8 outline a “Grand Experiment” designed to probe the light barrier. Chapters 7-9 give future-fiction accounts of possible scenarios of Humanity’s first hesitant steps to the stars. Chapter 10 presents a separate argument questioning the idea of an absolute light barrier. -------------------------------------- Related book now in publication from the first author: “Pharmacy Math in the Space Age,” 4th edition, Pima College Press, 2010; a cutting-edge textbook for pharmacy technicians pursuing a Space Sciences curriculum. Homer B. Tilton Florentin Smarandache How to Break the Light Barrier by BEGIN the ADVENTURE 3 rd Edition A.D. 2079 PimaCommunityCollege i BEGIN THE ADVENTURE How to Break the Light Barrier by A.D. 2079 3rd Edition Homer B. Tilton Department of Mathematics and Engineering Pima Community College, EC, Tucson, AZ 85710, USA Florentin Smarandache Department of Mathematics and Sciences The University of New Mexico at Gallup, USA Pima College Press 2010 ii To the memory of Benjamin E. Tilton (1876-1955), a close contemporary of Albert Einstein (1879-1955) ISBN-13: 978-1-599731-094 Production Editor Gloria Valles Research specialist Esther Walker © Copyright 2004, 2005, 2010 by Homer B. Tilton / Tucson, Arizona USA All rights reserved. Keywords: Physics, Relativity, Superluminal Speed, Starflight Printed in the United States of America iii Contents Page Preface ............................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1 The Light Barrier ............................................................................................. 1 Notes ............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2 The Human Barrier Einstein’s Challenge ........................................................ 7 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 Einstein’s conclusion .................................................................................................. 10 Relativity Light Barrier ......................................................................................... 11 Einstein’s retraction .................................................................................................... 13 Notes ........................................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3 Anatomy of the Light Barrier ........................................................................ 20 Section 1. The second postulate close-up .................................................................. 21 Section 2. The barrier: absolute, or only conditional ................................................. 27 Notes ........................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 4 Acceleration Due to Light Pressure ............................................................... 35 Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 36 Light sailing ................................................................................................................ 37 A sop to the gods ........................................................................................................ 37 Notes ........................................................................................................................... 38 Appendix 4A The Maxwell-Schelkunoff analog and the speed of light ..................... 41 Cerenkov electrons - ................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 4B ............................................................................................................... 46 The roles of speed and acceleration ............................................................................ 46 Chapter 5 Light Sailing Is Not All There Is ................................................................... 47 Project SETI expanded ............................................................................................... 50 The homesick Centaurians .......................................................................................... 52 H. G. Wells’ time machine ......................................................................................... 52 Einstein’s time machine .............................................................................................. 53 What is the truth? ........................................................................................................ 55 Summing up ................................................................................................................ 55 Notes ........................................................................................................................... 56 Chapter 6 Einstein’s Conclusion and his Later Change of Mind .................................... 59 Venerable force or cognitive illusion .......................................................................... 60 Compounding velocities ............................................................................................. 61 Risky business ............................................................................................................ 62 Venerable force or kinematical perspective? .............................................................. 63 The dreams of the young die hard ............................................................................... 65 Finally, we find, Einstein changed his mind ............................................................... 65 Notes ..........................................................................................................................
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