HackerPapers

arXiv:2201.00652gr-qc

Hyper-Fast Positive Energy Warp Drives

Erik W. Lentz

Abstract

Solitons in space-time capable of transporting time-like observers at superluminal speeds have long been tied to violations of the weak, strong, and dominant energy conditions of general relativity. This trend was recently broken by a new approach that identified soliton solutions capable of superluminal travel while being sourced by purely positive energy densities. This is the first example of hyper-fast solitons satisfying the weak energy condition, reopening the discussion of superluminal mechanisms rooted in conventional physics. This article summarizes the recent finding and its context in the literature. Remaining challenges to autonomous superluminal travel, such as the dominant energy condition, horizons, and the identification of a creation mechanism are also discussed.

arXiv comments
8 pages, 1 figure; Contribution to the Sixteenth Marcel Grossman Conference (MG16, Rome, Italy, July 2021)
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology astro-ph.HEHigh Energy Astrophysical Phenomena hep-phHigh Energy Physics, Phenomenology

On Hacker News

Linked by 3 identifiable commenters in 3 comments across 3 threads, from Nov 2022 to Jun 2024.

Comments linking this paper, per year.

Discussed in comments3 threads

  1. A Study Says Warp Drives Might Be Real–and We'll Find Them with Lasers 1 comment

    • There are now positive energy soliton solutions to the warp drive[1] Still not exactly practical, but one less fundamental problem to solve. [1] https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.00652

      MattPalmer1086View on HNParent context

  2. Supernova in 1006 1 comment

    • More recently we have the work of Erik Lentz to make these viable with positive energy (a bunch of it AFAIR) using Solitons[0]. The funny thing is there's actually a TNG episode, New Ground, where the crew test a Soliton wave for warp propulsion. [0]…

      ctothView on HNParent context

  3. Physical Warp Drives (2021) 1 comment

    • This abstract says only that they've reduced the need for exotic matter by some orders of magnitude. Presumably it's still required. However, there were some recent papers describing warp drive geometries with only positive mass. Ex: https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.00652

      ghkbrewView on HNParent context

Submitted to Hacker News

Connected through shared HN threads, not inferred similarity or a recommendation.