Mach Effect Gravity Assist Drive- New Results

Jim Woodward

Abstract:

New experimental results on the Mach effect gravitational assist drive, including the new duo-drive results. Movies of the runs taken will be shown. Below you see two 3 second pulses and a 10 second sweep over 24 kHz between them.

We have two 19nF devices in parallel so we needed to incorporate a new tuning circuit. Paul March used circuit maker to design a resonant circuit with a 1:(1.5) step up transformer and a tuning coil of 515 μH. The plots represent 2 forward runs and 3 reverse run averages. Pitfalls of the Maxwellian approximation in GR

Lance L. Williams

For a talk, I would like to present on the Maxwellian approximation in GR. I would call it maybe "Maxwellian mirages in GR", or "Pitfalls of the Maxwellian approximation in GR." It involves considerations of gauge freedom, coordinate choices, and invariant potentials.

Theoretical and numerical analysis of Mach-effect space-propulsion

José J. Rodal, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT: The theoretical foundations of Mach-effect space-propulsion are discussed. It is shown that the validity of Woodward's equation does not depend on the actual value of the mass-density of the universe. A covariant gravito- electro-magnetic analogy valid in the nonlinear domain of general relativity, as well as its non-local gravitational potentials are examined. Numerical comparisons between models and experimental observations are made.

Quark Matter in the Solar System: A Resource for Advanced Propulsion?

T. Marshall EubanksSpace Initiatives, Inc., E-mail:[email protected] Submitted to the 2018 Estes Park Advanced Propulsion Workshop.

Nuggets of condensed strange quark matter are a viable theory for macroscopic Dark Matter (DM), consistent with astrophysical constraints, despite their non- negligible cross sections, due to their very small cross section to mass ratios. This paper describes the observable consequences of the nugget theory developed by Ariel Zhitnitsky and his collegues, which predicts a stable nugget mass (MQ) 5 10 somewhere in the range 10 MQ 4 × 10 kg.

DM is rarely considered to be important in the formation of the Solar system. However, under very general assumptions there would be “primordial capture” of DM due to gravitational potential changes during the collapse of the proto-planetary nebulae. For reasonable models of galactic DM velocity distributions and a giant molecular cloud mass comparable to the Orion-A star-forming region, the total amount of primordially captured DM for a Sun-type star would be ∼ 10−8 to 10−6 M⊙. Although almost any sort of DM would be subject to this process, the primordial capture of quark nuggets would lead to interesting consequences for the Solar System. In particular, masses in the range allowed by the Zhitnitsky theory could possibly resolve the “meter barrier” of planetary formation, serving as nucleation centers for proto-planetesimals and leading directly to a prediction that quark nuggets would reside today in the cores of the planets and asteroids.

In the Zhitnitsky theory asteroids with radii 200 m would either not have a quark nugget core at all, or would be dominated by the mass of their strange matter core. Such “strange asteroids” would have unusually large masses and gravitational binding, but very small moment of inertia-mass ratios, leading to a prediction that some would sustain unusually fast rotation rates under Yarkovsky- O?Keefe- Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) radiative torquing. The small Near Earth Objects (NEO) do indeed contain a population apparently consistent with these predictions, 10 12 implying, if these are gravi- tationally bound, that 10 MQ 10 kg, which overlaps with the stable mass range predicted by the Zhitnitsky theory. The interpretation of these asteroids as strange objects is complicated by the non-negligible cohesion expected from van deer Waals forces, and by the possibility that some such small bodies could be monolithic objects. At least for the fastest rotators it is hard, however, to see how either van der Waals forces, or a reasonable asteroid tensile strength, would be sufficient to pro- tect these bodies against rotational disruption without some additional binding mechanism, supporting (but not proving) the strange asteroid hypothesis.

1 The discovery of even a single quark nugget in the Solar System would of course be of immense scientific value. The Zhitnitsky theory is likely to be confirmed or denied as a consequence of the exploration and mining of NEO, as the existence of a quark core should be evident to in situ spacecraft examination. A completely independent way to search for quark matter is through neutrino radiography of the Earth’s core; as quark matter is opaque to the few GeV neutrinos currently used in long baseline neutrino experiments, a beam passed directly through the center of the Earth’s core would be absorbed by any quark matter there, but not by the ordinary matter of the core. The existing long baseline experiments possess sufficient sensitivity to perform this experiment, assuming they were suitably relocated.

2 Time Varying Chameleon Fields, Propagating Scalar Waves and Advanced Propulsion

T. Marshall Eubanks Space Initiatives, Inc., E-mail:[email protected] Submitted to the 2018 Estes Park Advanced Propulsion Workshop

The discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe has led to a renewed interest in modifications of General Relativity. In particular, the addition of a scalar field (or fields) with energies comparable to the cosmo- logical constant could potentially provide a cosmologically significant “dark energy” component to gravity (1, 2). However, massless (Jordan-Brans-Dicke) scalar fields are subject to stringent constraints from laboratory and solar system tests of gravity and of the principle of equivalence (3). These tests require massless scalar fields to be much weaker than gravity, and thus unable to provide cosmologically significant corrections to standard gravity on any size scale. Chameleon fields are massive self-interacting scalar fields whose effective mass depends on the density of the surrounding normal matter; for sufficiently large and dense bodies in vacuum chameleon fields are restricted to a thin surface layer, greatly reducing the chameleon forces from such objects and allowing chameleon fields to evade the stringent constraints from laboratory and solar system tests while remaining dynamically important on galactic and intergalactic scales (2, 4, 5). For a laboratory sized or larger baryonic object in vacuum the thin chameleon surface layer will act in many ways like a surface electrical charge on a conductor (6). A time-varying chameleon field follows a Klein-Gordon equation for a massive scalar field with the resulting group velocity, vc, being (7) v 1 g = (1) c m2 1 + eff q k2 in natural units, where meff is the effective chameleon particle mass and the Planck constant and the speed of light are set to unity. Define Reff to be the Compton radius of meff ; this parameter sets the scale constant of the chameleon Yukawa potential and is constrained experimentally to be . 1 µm in baryonic matter (8). At the surface of a laboratory-sized mass of dimension R therefore v R g ∝ eff ≪ 1. (2) c R while in vacuum Equation 2 is inappropriate and vg ∼ c. Vibrations of a surface with a thin chameleon field in vacuum will generate propagating scalar waves, similar to the generation of waves from a moving surface charge in electromagnetism, although scalar waves will also support monopole radiation. The coupling between chameleon and matter fields thus implies that a non-relativistically vibrating mass in vacuum can be much more efficient at generating scalar radiation than at generating tensor gravitational waves; scalar wave generation will be most efficient when the size of the object is comparable to the crossing time of the 2 scalar waves. A laboratory mass with R ∼ 0.1 m will have a crossing time, R / vg ∼ R / (c Reff ), . 30 µs, and thus would generate scalar radiation most effectively at frequencies of order 30 kHz. Scalar radiation can transfer energy and momentum through vacuum, and thus could be used for propulsion in deep space. The effects described in this paper would not be evident in the numerous static or very low frequency

1 tests for a fifth force, and there are at present very few limits on frequency-dependent violations of the weak Equivalence Principle. However, it would be straightforward to search for this radiation with existing laboratory techniques, and it is possible it has been detected in work aimed at verifying Mach effect thrusters.

References

1. P. J. Peebles and B. Ratra. The cosmological constant and dark energy. Reviews of Modern Physics, 75:559– 606, April 2003. 2. J. Khoury and A. Weltman. Chameleon Fields: Awaiting Surprises for Tests of Gravity in Space. Phys. Rev. Lett., 93(17):171104, October 2004. 3. C. M. Will. The Confrontation between General Relativity and Experiment. Living Reviews in Relativity, 17:4, June 2014. 4. J. Khoury and A. Weltman. Chameleon cosmology. Phys. Rev. D, 69(4):044026, February 2004. 5. C. Burrage and J. Sakstein. Tests of Chameleon Gravity. ArXiv e-prints, September 2017. 6. C. Burrage, E. J. Copeland, A. Moss, and J. A. Stevenson. The shape dependence of chameleon screening. J. Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 1:056, January 2018. 7. J. Ø. Lindroos, C. Llinares, and D. F. Mota. Wave propagation in modified gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 93(4):044050, February 2016. 8. J. Sakstein. Tests of gravity with future space-based experiments. Phys. Rev. D, 97(6):064028, March 2018.

2 Simulating and Testing Propulsion Devices on a Low-Thrust Torsion Pendulum

Jamie Ciomperlik

This presentation will focus on how a low-thrust torsional pendulum was fabricated, work with testing speculative propulsion devices, and how that lead to simulations and tests involving mechanically oscillating devices. Those results, other observations, and plans for the future will be discussed.

The similarities between the Mach Effect Thruster and the Henry Bull Reaction Motor have been noted recently on online forums. Using a 3D printer and voice coils, several actuator devices were designed and built on this concept that can operate from 1Hz – 20,000Hz. These "asymmetric shakers“ produced a displacement on the low-thrust torsional pendulum that could be interpreted as thrust. Rigid-body physics simulations were also created to “slow down” the experiment and visualize the results. These simulations also showed similar "thrust" displacement.

A center of mass shift from the asymmetric motion of internal device contents could be problematic for testing mechanically oscillating devices for thrust on torsional pendulums. A rotary test bed based on MIT’s Maglev CubeSat Testbed should not be vulnerable to this as it is free to rotate. With no torsion from bearings to return the device to its origin position, a device producing thrust would freely accelerate and generate very convincing data in the form of an acceleration curve.

A More Efficient Driver for Piezoelectric Actuators

David Jenkins BSEE, University of California, Davis

ABSTRACT.- Present Mach-Effect propellantless thrusters utilize a piezoelectric actuator which looks like a capacitance to the driving circuit. The actuator is driven by a linear amplifier. Linear amplifiers do not recycle the energy stored in a capactive load but dissipate it. Thus the thrust-to-power ratio of the thruster is low. To enable use in practical applications such as space-flight where there is a limited source of energy, circuits must be devised to more effectively handle the energy moving in and out of the piezoelectric actuator's capacitance.

A switching circuit built using low-loss Silicon-Carbide Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) devices is very efficient, and can be designed to dissipate less than 5% of the energy flowing through the circuit. Here a MOSFET-based driver circuit is devised that is controlled by a Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA) so that the circuit efficiently charges or discharges the capacitance of the piezoelectric actuator which action is determined by the waveform of an applied signal. The switching circuit acts as a bidirectional highway for the energy flowing from a power source to the actuator and back to the power source. With suitable components, the present design can provide up to 30 amps peak current with a 100 volts supply, or 10 amps peak current at 1,000 volts supply. The design is scalable to a wide variety of peak- current/supply-voltage situations.

A switching circuit facilitates an energy-efficient Mach-Effect thruster utilizing a piezoelectric element. This circuit increases the thrust/power ratio an order of magnitude.

Prof. Martin Tajmar, SpaceDrive Project: Progress and Overview

M. Weikert, SpaceDrive: Progress on EMDrive Testing

M. Kößling, SpaceDrive: Thrust Balance Development and Preliminary Mach- Effect Thruster Test Results

M. Monette, SpaceDrive: In-Depth Analysis of Mach-Effect Experiments and Alternative Designs

The New Mars Synthesis and the Cydonian Hypothesis (Fun Talk)

John E. Brandenburg Morningstar Applied Physics

The NMS (New Mars Synthesis) ,is a concept of Mars Geochemical history drawn from the wide body of data from Mars orbiters, lander-rovers, the Mars Meteorites and a better understanding of Mars analogous environments on Earth. It basic concepts are 1. :Mars has a 4x Lunar cratering rate based on the young average age of Mars meteorites. 2. Mars had a stable greenhouse giving Earth-like temperatures and atmospheric pressures, as shown by water channels on Mars surface of a variety of ages. 3. Mars had a liquid water northern ocean and hydro-cycle. 4. Mars life began early and shaped the Mars environment, forming a Martian Gaia with an oxygen rich atmosphere to stabilize its planetary greenhouse. 5. Mars climate changed catastrophically in recent geologic time, probably due to the formation of the Lyot Impact Basin in the Early Amazonian or else an anomalous “r-process” nuclear event. Thus, Mars and Earth began similarly and evolved similarly until recent geologic time, approximately 0.5 Billion years ago under the assumption of a 4x Lunar chronology. This results in an Earthlike period of Mars climate 4.0 Billion years long. The NMS assumes Mars held biology from the Early Noachian, and has been geologically active throughout its history and finds that This biology, through the creation of a oxygen rich atmosphere by photosynthesis, stabilized the Mars greenhouse by creating an oxidizing environment , promoting Fe+3 ferric iron and acid formation . Based on the Principle of Mediocrity, the concept that Earth and its biology are typical rather than exotic , we would expect intelligent humanoid life to develop on Mars and the Cydonian hypothesis proposes, based on imaging evidence, that this has occurred. This evidence will be also reviewed.

The GEM Unification Theory : Theory and Experiment

J.E. Brandenburg

This manuscript presents the recent results of the GEM (Gravity-Electro-Magnetism) theory which unifies the four forces of nature. The two long range forces Gravity and Electro- Magnetism are first unified, and out of this unification also proceeds the unification of the short range Weak and Strong Forces. They are unified under the two postulates that: 1. Gravity fields are an array of electromagnetic cells and 2. The separate appearance of Gravity and EM fields from each other is correlated with the separation of protons and electrons from each other as they emerge from the Planck scale with the appearance of a compact or hidden dimension. The theory produces the value of G: the Newton gravitation constant, and the proton mass accurately from the Planck scale with no free parameters. The theory produces the values of the masses, charges and spins for the pions of the Strong Force and the W and Z bosons of the Weak Force as quantum Mie scatterings off the compact dimension structures associated with the proton and electron masses. The Higgs Boson mass follows from similar formalism. The GEM theory extends the Standard Model to include Gravitation. The theory predicts a short lived, neutral spin 0 particle will be found at approximately 22MeV, that matter can emerge from the bare vacuum, and that gravity field can be directly altered by electromagnetism. Experimental work , apparently supportive of this theory, will be reviewed.

Negative Casimir energy densities in the Woodward and the Alcubierre propellantless-propulsion drives Authors: R.Y. Chiao, J.S. Sharping, L.A. Martinez, B.S. Kang, A. Castelli, N. Inan, J. Thompson, and J. Pate

Abstract: Some examples of negative Casimir and Casimir-like energy densities will be presented, and the implications of such negative energy densities for propellantless propulsion schemes, such as for the Woodward and the Alcubierre drives, will be examined. In the first example, we consider the observation that a superfluid film climbs up and over a wall of a vessel containing superfluid helium. This quantum mechanical phenomenon originates from the uncertainty principle, and leads to a negative pressure, in which the superfluid film pulls itself up and over the top of the wall of the vessel against Earth’s gravity. In the second example, we consider two grounded plates that are coated with superfluid helium. We argue that the Casimir effect in such a configuration might lead to the expulsion of tensor gravitational wave fields from the interiors of the superfluid helium films.

Ray Chiao

Johnathon Thompson : 2 short talks

“Quantum corrections in gravity”

It is well known that many solutions in classical general relativity possess unphysical spacetime signatures. For example, Blackhole solutions contain Cauchy horizons leading to mass inflation instabilities, singularities leading to the famous information paradox, naked singularities and closed time-like curves. It is widely believed that the application of quantum mechanics to the spacetime will solve the information paradox, since at the Planck scale quantum gravity will dominate. The argument that Quantum mechanics is required to smooth out the unphysical parts of the spacetime is a compelling one. Here we investigate quantum applications to the stress tensor side of Einstein’s equations and show that indeed, even for first order quantum corrections, problematic areas of the spacetime are fixed. We show that quantum effects are nonnegligible even far away from the Planck scale, i.e., even at large length scales, in agreement with the earlier suggestion by Chapline et al in their paper 'Quantum phase transitions and the breakdown of classical general relativity' (Phil. Mag. B 81, 235 (2001)'.

“SRF cavities: a central tool for experimental quantum and classical physics”

Three-dimensional superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are attractive because of their high quality factors (Q>10^11) for electromagnetic modes. The large mode volume readily integrates with macroscopic objects and the system is easily isolated from the surrounding environment owing to the relatively massive construction. We aim to fully exploit the use of high Q SRF cavities to probe the quantum/classical boundary in cm-scale mechanical devices. We hypothesize that that gravitational radiation (GR) interacts more strongly with superconducting materials than it does with normal materials. As such it may be possible to construct a parametric oscillator for GR allowing us to generate and detect high-frequency GR in the laboratory.

The Tri-Space Model of theUniverse Incorporating Fluidic Spacetime

Greg Meholic, The Aerospace Corporation

The Tri-Space Model of the universe (see; Meholic, 1998 and 2004) is based upon the premise that the governing mathematics of special relativity describe a unified continuum comprised of three, coincident, independent realms of nature that can all exist at any given point in space. These realms are identified as subluminal space (where v/c < 1), superluminal space (where v/c > 1) and luminal spacetime (where v/c = 1). The range of absolute energy that can exist in each spacetime is driven in part by the velocity ratio, v/c, where v is the velocity of a massive particle and c is the speed of light (vacuum). The fundamental mathematics of these realms suggest that real, measurable mass can exist in both sub- and superluminal spaces along with forward temporal progression. Luminal spacetime lies adjacent to the two other spaces and is the realm in which all charge and electromagnetic fields exist. It is also the medium which manifests as gravity across both spaces and is responsible for inertia and quantum effects.

Tri-Space merges the basic premises of string theory and quantum mechanics with the philosophy that the three spatial realms, especially luminal spacetime, can be represented as a quasi-fluidic continuum constructed of fundamental quanta whose behavior can be approximated through modified, classical fluid-dynamic analogies with representative fluid properties and flow structures. If the fluid-like properties of spacetime can be sufficiently defined, then the structures and characterizations of natural forces can be derived. These can then be combined using a simplistic Minkowski metric to form a comprehensive, topology-based, graphical model of the universe that can be applied to all scales of nature ranging from cosmology to quantum physics.

The presentations given will address the basic philosophies that govern the construct of Tri-Space and identify the supporting scientific references. This information will then be used through logical inference and supposition to develop: 1) assumptions regarding the unique set of physical laws that govern each realm; 2) a proposed construct of spacetime that supports analogous characteristics such as density, elasticity, pressure, and other fluidic qualities, and; 3) initial concepts of how each of these manifest to describe the makeup and interaction of electric, magnetic and gravitational fields as viewed from both sub- and superluminal spaces. Tri-Space will also be offered as an alternate approach to support the scientific observations and models of dark matter, dark energy, universal expansion and other cosmological phenomena from a graphical perspective if the characteristics of each space were to behave as the proposed. In its current form, the Tri-Space model permits the possibility of faster-than-light (FTL) travel without the constraints of special relativity or causality.

The material presented will not attempt to describe the Tri-Space model and its applications in a mathematical fashion, propose a ‘new’, discrete set of governing equations, or challenge scientifically-accepted relationships. Instead, Tri-Space will propose an alternative model of the universe based on logical assumptions, unconventional, analytical interpretations of existing models, and empirical or observational data.

There are currently no experimental efforts dedicated to explore the concepts behind Tri-Space, but there have been many efforts whose results can be interpreted to support its framework. The hope of the author is that discussions at the event will result in testable approaches to measure key metrics that support the fluidic spacetime model which could ultimately lead to verifying the existence of the superluminal realm. Wormholes as Starships

John G. Cramer Professor Emeritus Department of Physics University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195

Abstract We consider the possibility that, as a means of interstellar exploration and travel, stable microscopic charged wormhole ends could be accelerated to relativistic velocities with a conventional particle accelerator to reach some Lorentz factor γ and sent to nearby stars. The effect of relativistic time dilation means that, as viewed through the wormhole itself, the travel time T would be T=d/(βcγ), where d is the distance traveled, β is the relativistic velocity, i.e. fraction of the speed of light, and c is the velocity of light. Therefore, for a highly relativistic velocity T could be made a very short time, on the order of a few weeks or months. The travelling wormhole could be steered to its destination and even decelerated using the momentum transfer from back-reaction.

The Race to Mine Asteroids and Build a New Deep Space Economy, Establishing the Basis for the Development of Space Settlement plus a report on Growth as a Driver of Geometry for Rotating Space Habitat Design

An illustrated talk by Anthony Longman

Abstract: Together with advanced propulsion, the development of space settlement technology, enabling humans to prosper independent of habitable planetary surfaces, will contribute much to securing humanity’s future prospects. Robotic asteroid mining is a must-have precursor technology for habitat development, however, and these will be mutually synergistic activities. Efforts are under way behind the scenes to develop both of these technologies, and you will hear a report on Anthony’s involvement in both of them, both as an illustrator and configuration designer of mining and advanced solar thermal propulsion spacecraft utilizing in-situ derived volatiles for propellant, and as the originator of a NASA funded concept for the design of small rotating seed habitat structures endowed with the routine capacity for periodic expansion, in this way growing into much larger structures capable of providing earth-normal gravity at comfortable rates of rotation, and thus providing a secure and affordable path for growth of the deep space economy.

Anthony’s background as a U.K. licensed architect with Masters degree from Cambridge University and decades of expertise in 3DCAD and computer graphics prepared him 10 years ago for a career shift leading into space habitat research and configuration design and illustration for some innovative developments in propellant based deep space propulsion and robotic asteroid mining technology.

Thrust Measurement and Error Discussion of a Resonant Microwave Cavity

Michael S. McDonald1 U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 20375, United States of America

This paper reports preliminary results of an independent validation and verification (IV&V) effort examining recently reported force measurements from a still speculative class of spacecraft propulsion using a closed resonant microwave cavity to produce thrust, with no conventional expulsion of reaction mass, and claimed to operate via several unconventional interpretations of physics. Such a device would have remarkable applications for spacecraft propulsion, but positive experimental results to date, while suggestive, are near the limits of state of the art measurement resolution and subject to significant confounding errors due to thermal drifts and other subtle effects. The most prominent of these experimental results are those of White et. al.1 from NASA Johnson Space Center. We duplicate the resonant geometry (length, diameter, taper) of White’s experimental apparatus in a replica cavity with mechanical construction and driving microwave circuit of our own design, with careful attention to maximizing driving RF power capability and cavity resonant quality factor Q. We use a torsional thrust stand with a noise floor ~1 µN operated at high vacuum of order 10-6 Torr to measure displacement of the torsional arm while the replica cavity resonates at approximately 1.941 GHz at a resonant quality factor >16000 and cavity power levels of 85 W. Cavity testing is performed with and without a polymer insert of the type described by White and compared with results from a high-power RF dummy load on the thrust stand. Test results are reported at thermal steady state operating conditions.

References [1] H. White et al., “Measurement of Impulsive Thrust from a Closed Radio-Frequency Cavity in Vacuum,” J. Propuls. Power, vol. 0, no. 0, pp. 1–12, 2016.

1 Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Section, Naval Center for Space Technology, [email protected]

1 Lamina Switching Process for the Dynamic Casimir Epitaxial Device (Estes Park Advanced Propulsion Workshop, September 10-14, 2018)

Dr. D. C. Hyland* September 2018

Abstract

At the previous workshop, the author reexamined the possibility of using the dynamic Casimir effect [1, 2] as a method of propulsion, exploiting the interaction of rapidly moving reflective surfaces and the vacuum state of the electromagnetic field. Assuming mechanical motion of a mirror, Maclay and Forward, [3], showed that the amplitude of high frequency motion need be in the nanometer range due to the finite strength of materials, thus restricting the propulsive force to very small values. The previous presentation [4] introduced the concept of an epitaxial assembly of semiconductor, or chiral Liquid Crystal cholesteric laminae. Without the application of electronic input, each lamina is a partially transparent dielectric; but when appropriately stimulated it becomes a reflecting conductor serving as a mirror. Inputs can be switched among the laminae at high speed, effectively moving the mirror at high velocities and accelerations without the use of moving parts. Thus, motions of the reflective surface that have both high frequencies and large amplitudes can be produced. [4] concentrated almost exclusively on the calculation of propulsive force when the amplitude of reflective surface motion is much larger than the smallest wavelengths wherein the laminae can be switched. The present work discusses how a continuous, accelerating motion of a reflective surface can be synthesized by a stack of discrete laminae with a suitable switching pattern. The necessary requirement is that the reflecting boundary conditions be smoothly varying so that any discontinuities are below the minimum wavelength in the switchable band. We illustrate one way to achieve this by coordinating a spatial-temporal switching pattern with spatially graded (identical) laminae. A repetitive train of accelerating pulses is produced to create the required Doppler shift asymmetry.

Keywords: Dynamic Casimir effect, Epitaxial Devices, Transparent Semiconductors, Switching mirrors

References

1. H. B. G. Casimir, Proc. Kon. Nederl. Akad. Wet. 51 (1948) 793.

2. H. B. G. Casimir, D. Polder, Phys. Rev. 73 (1948) 360.

3. Maclay, G. J. and Forward, R. L., “A Gedanken Spacecraft that Operates Using the Quantum Vacuum (Dynamic Casimir Effect)” Foundations of Physics, Vol. 34 No. 3, March 2004.

4. Hyland, D. C., “An Epitaxial Device for Dynamic Interaction with the Vacuum State”, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. Vol. 70, pp353-432,2017.

• Emeritus Professor of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Adjunct Professor of Physics, College of Science, Texas A&M University

2018 Advanced Propulsion Workshop Estes Park, Colorado

Abstract

Refinements in the Mach Field Detector Apparatus and Analysis of Results P.M. Jansson1,2, S. Zanardi1, P. Kaladius1, E. Jansson2, W. McGrath2

Since recent 2017 meetings with scientists in the US and UK the Mach Field detector has undergone refinements of its real time data acquisition system. Early runs of the device during test and control periods indicate that anomalous electromagnetic interactions with the device were reproducible by undergraduate research engineers at Bucknell University during the summer of 2018. While still not well understood, the empirical investigations continue to yield results that are inexplicable by standard theory and are indicative of the potential that local Machian mass interactions are detectable (and potentially electromagnetic in nature) during significant alignments of relatively near masses (Earth, Sun, Moon, Virgo supercluster, etc.). This presentation/paper highlights the most recent analysis of dozens of older experiments with the detector and most recently new experiments with another 5 sigma event observed at Bucknell University this summer and captured in real-time by the system's new data acquisition system.

1 - of Bucknell University 2 - of INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

MUFON’s Best Cases

Jan Harzan

Are we Alone in the Universe? Does intelligent life Exist outside of Earth? Are UFOs Real? Do they represent advanced intelligences visiting our planet? What do our leaders say about these questions? More importantly, what does the data say? MUFON has been investigating the UFO Phenomena and collecting data on UFOs since the late 60’s and has over 100,000 cases in its files. Who is MUFON? How does it operate? And, what is it finding? Our very best cases that relate to FTL travel will be shared along with statistical data and more. What can scientists and engineers learn from reviewing the very best UFO files? The answer is Plenty. So open your mind and get ready for major scientific breakthroughs!

Measurement of resonant stack acceleration by means of 3D laser scanner

Dr Michele Schirru

The Leonardo Centre for Tribology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S13J0, UK This work proposes a non-invasive way to measure the acceleration of piezo-stack Mach thrusters [1]. In the past, it was proposed the insertion of a gauge in between the piezo stack and the aluminium cap as an accelerometer. Here, the insertion effects are eliminated and the device acceleration is mapped. This is done because the Mach effect is stronger when the reaction mass has a length so that the centre of mass of the device coincides with a node of the waves in the mass. Therefore, an acceleration measurement map would help confirming that the reaction mass was designed correctly in respect of the Mach effect’s requirements. A PSV-400 scanning laser vibrometer was used to scan the displacement, velocity and acceleration at the device surface. The piezo-thruster consisted of piezostacks of different length (10 mm, 30 mm, 50 mm) and 5x5 mm cross sections. The resonant mass was made of steel or brass, while the cap was made of aluminium. The stack was excited with a chirp excitation ranging from 1 kHz to 100 kHz. The PSV-400 was chosen because it self-calibrates and allows for scanning multiple points on the specimen surfaces up to 2 MHz vibrational frequencies. Further, this instrument allows for scanning in the three spatial directions by using three collimated beams. The scan allows determining node (maximum acceleration) and antinode (minima) in the resonant mass and cap. Also, it was shown that most of the ultrasonic energy is stored at the chamfer of the resonant mass therefore the design of the resonant mass should be reconsidered or the centre of mass should be located in the proximity of the chamfer to increase the thrust from the Mach Effect. In conclusion, it was possible to measure and map acceleration on piezo-thruster accurately and this methodology might enhance the design of the next generation Mach effect based piezo thrusters.

[1] Woodward, J. F. (2012). Making Starships and Stargates: The Science of Interstellar Transport and Absurdly Benign Wormholes. Springer Science & Business Media.

Constraints on Janus Cosmological model from recent observations of supernovae type Ia

Jean-Pierre Petit

From our exact solution of the Janus Cosmological equation we derive the relation of the predicted magnitude of distant sources versus their red shift. The comparison, through this one free parameter model, to the available data from 740 distant supernovae shows an excellent fit.

My model Janus is in progress. After a series of paper devoted to the theoretical background I have published last month another paper showing that my model fits 11 observational aspects.

I have submitted another paper, which is closely related to interstellar travel. In effect, from my interpretation of the fluctuations in the CMB the conclusion is along the geodesics followed by negative masses the distances are 100 times shorter and the speed of light 10 times higher.

Which shorten the travel time par a factor 1000.

So that if a vehicle can operate a mass inversion, interstellar travels becomes non- impossible.

About mass inversion technique : next papers. But always published in top level peer reviewed journals ( the last has needed 3 years of fight. But I won ). VIDEO and/or SKYPE.

Mach effect work- updates at Fullerton (Stand in talk only)

Heidi Fearn

Brief slides summing up positive changes at the Fullerton Lab. A new oven, new data acquistition, lots of new stacks being tested. Things to be done over the next 6 months…

Come find me in Long Peak Lodge- Monday evening 6-7pm in the Foyer to pick up your badges. First evening talk is John Brandenberg on Mars..