AIAA 95-2599 Report on the NASAIJPL Workshop on Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion Gary L. Bennett, Metaspace Enterprises, Boise ID Robert L. Forward, Forward Unlimited, Malibu CA Robert H. Frisbee, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA 31st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit July 10-12, 1995 I San Diego, CA For permission to copy or republish, contact the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024 Report on the NASA/JPL Workshop on Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion 1 Gary L. Bennett , Robert L. Forward 2 , and Robert H. Frisbee 3 1 Metaspace Enterprises; 7517 West Devonwood Drive; Boise ID 83703 2 Forward Unlimited; P.O. Box 2783; Malibu CA 90265 3 Jet Propulsion Laboratory; 4800 Oak Grove Drive; Pasadena CA 91109 ABSTRACT In an effort to address the FTL question the Office In May 1994, NASA and JPL sponsored a of Advanced Concepts and Technology (OACT) of workshop on advanced quantum/relativity theory NASA Headquarters and the Jet Propulsion propulsion concepts to establish and use new Laboratory (JPL) sponsored a workshop on frames of reference tor thinking about the advanced quantum/relativity theory propulsion at taster-than-light (FTL) question. Using the horizon JPL on 16-17 May 1994. Appendix 1 lists the mission methodology, the participants reviewed attendees at the workshop. wormholes: a hypothetical physics where the speed of light (c) is a lower bound; and the physics The first premise of the workshop was that of additional space dimensions. While the theoretical perspectives exist in advanced participants did not identity any obvious method to quantum and relativity theory that could achieve FTL travel they did identity enough open conceivably perm~ FTL travel or information issues in physics that FTL travel could not be ruled transfer. A second premise was that investigation out. Moreover, several experiments were of these perspectives from other frames of identified that could elucidate some possible reference could possibly provide fresh insights. FTL-related phenomena. The purpose of the workshop was to establish and 1. INTRODUCTION use new frames of reference for thinking about the FTL problem. The objectives of the workshop Contained within the paradigm of the human race were to as a species genetically predisposed toward exploration is the view that eventually our species • identify theoretically permitted "scientific will expand beyond the Solar System. In order to windows" that could permit FTL travel or realize interstellar civilizations in which the vast information transfer; distances between star systems must be spanned in times much less than the lifetimes of the crew • identify manifestations of the underlying physics; and the people remaining on the planets, there must be a revolution in transportation technology. • identity avenues of scientific and technological However, the general opinion within the physics research to explore and validate the possibilities; community has been that the special theory of relativity precludes such short transit times • define (where possible) enabling technology because they would involve taster-than-light (FTL) concepts tor FTL travel; and travel. 1 • introduce the horizon mission methodology as Copyright © 1995 by the American Institute of a tool tor thinking in other frames of reference. Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. No copyright is asserted in the United States under Title 17, U.S. Code. The critical reader should be aware that even The U.S. Government has a royalty-free license to though the special theory of relativity seems to exercise all rights under the copyright claimed herein for present insurmountable obstacles to FTL travel or Governmental Purpcses. All other rights are reserved communication (infinite energies, time travel by the copyright owner. paradoxes, etc.) there are at least thirteen '1hings" 1 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics that move faster than light 2.3.4 highly productive" 8 • Scissor-blade intersection As shown in Figure 1, the HMM is based on • Searchlight beam image creating a future frame of reference for evaluating • Eclipse shadow a topic. In the case of the advanced • Perfectly rigid rod quantum/relativity theory propulsion workshop the • Galloping waves invited participants were asked to imagine that • Quasar expansion they were in the future where FTL travel or • Plasma phase velocity information transfer had been achieved and then • Marquee light to "look backward" to see how it was • Comet tail accomplished. In essence, are there theoretically • Riptide permitted reinterpretations of physics or "scientific • Oscilloscope trace windows" that could permit FTL travel? • Expansion of spacetime • "Practical speed" of a nearly-as-fast-as-light These scientific windows could be expressed in spaceship terms of new axioms or principles such as More recently there have been a series of • Cosmic (spacetime) tunnels exist and can be experiments showing either that light quanta can used. tunnel through barriers or that microwaves can travel through the '1orbidden regions" of a wave • There exists an "entire physics" in which the guide at speeds greater than the speed of light, speed of light (c) is a /ower bound. aHhough it is not certain that this technique allows signals (in Einstein's sense of transmitting useful • Other, perhaps "higher" dimensions exist that information) to be sent.5·6 Even Einstein wrote can interact with the spacetime that we know. that " ... our result shows that, according to the general theory of relativity, the law of the For each of these scientific windows background constancy of the velocity of light in vacuo, which information was provided by specialists in the field constitutes one of the two fundamental and then the participants discussed the particular assumptions in the special theory of relativity and scientific window using the horizon mission to which we have already frequently referred, methodology to "look backward" to see how that cannot claim any unlimited validity. A curvature of particular scientific window could have led to FTL rays of light can only take place when the velocity travel or communication. of propagation of light varies with posftion". 7 The following sections discuss these three scientific windows as they were covered in the 1.1 Horizon Mission Methodology workshop. For each scientHic window, the participants were asked to consider the following Recognizing that solving a problem in advanced questions: missions or technology by extrapolating from the conventional technology can create obstacles to • What properties does it have? breakthrough solutions, John L. Anderson of • What is the evidence for/manifestation of? NASA Headquarters developed the horizon • What are the alternative physics interpretations? mission methodology (HMM). As Anderson has • What are the implications and manifestations of written, "The Horizon Mission Methodology is a these aHernative interpretations? highly structured process for both creating and • What avenues and approaches can be taken for thinking within a new frame of reference. It is not validation? a process of forecasting, scenario-generation or • What are the potential technological concepts? brainstorming. It first poses a truly challenging, relevant space future that is beyond our reach. 1.2 ETL Horizon Missions The process then places people mentally in that 'fixed' future, which is treated as an accomplished Robert H. Frisbee, who was the JPL host and fact. Next it stimulates the imagination to generate organizer of the workshop, followed the HMM breakthrough-based aHernatives for accomplishing discussion with an overview of the three principal that future and to reconstruct pathways that could scientific windows. He noted that any interstellar have led to it. This process requires signHicant mission, whether conventional or FTL, will require mental discipline to 'stay in character,' but it is 2 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics major investments by human society. For not even survive the trip to the horizon. Even example, an interstellar fusion rocket will require variations on the classic static black hole present on the order of 37 TW of power while a laser problems. A Schwarzschild (spherically lightsail will require 1500 TW. In contrast, an symmetric) wormhole would pinch off into infinite Apollo Saturn V at liftoff produced 0.04 TW. tidal forces before anything could get through. (Current power production by human technology The horizon of a black hole is a one-way on Earth is about 1 TW or an annual energy membrane, i.e., once inside nothing can get back production of about 1o 4 TWh.) out. For Kerr (rotating) black holes and Reissner-Nordstrom (charged) tunnels, Morris For wormholes and warp drives, Frisbee noted observed that while they are mathematically exact that the traditional science fiction assumption is for they are unrealistic with ring-shaped singularities on-board ''Warp" engines but that the newer and that the interim tunnels are unstable. approach is to use wormholes (either artnicial or natural). Two recent science fiction novels have Morris listed the following desired properties for been based on the wormhole theory developed by traversable wormholes (see also Ret. 16 and 17): Michael Morris and Kip s. Thorne.9,10 R. L. • Wormholes are spherically symmetric, static Forward had earlier reviewed various concepts of (time independent) spacetimes; space warps. 11