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Warp Field Mechanics 101This paper will begin with a short review of the Alcubierre warp drive metric and describes how the phenomenon might work based on the original paper. The canonical form of the metric was developed and published in [6] which provided key insight into the field potential and boost for the field which remedied a critical paradox in the original Alcubierre concept of operations. A modified concept of operations based on the canonical form of the metric that remedies the paradox is presented and discussed. The idea of a warp drive in higher dimensional space-time (manifold) will then be briefly considered by comparing the null-like geodesics of the Alcubierre metric to the Chung-Freese metric to illustrate the mathematical role of hyperspace coordinates. The net effect of using a warp drive technology coupled with conventional propulsion systems on an exploration mission will be discussed using the nomenclature of early mission planning. Finally, an overview of the warp field interferometer test bed being implemented in the Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory: Eagleworks (APPL:E) at the Johnson Space Center will be detailed. While warp field mechanics has not had a Chicago Pile moment, the tools necessary to detect a modest instance of the phenomenon are near at hand.
Document ID
20110015936
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
White, Harold
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 30, 2011
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-24651
Meeting Information
Meeting: DARPA/NASA 100 Year Starship Symposium
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: September 30, 2011
End Date: October 2, 2011
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 665858.01.05
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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