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arXiv:gr-qc/0009013gr-qc

The warp drive: hyper-fast travel within general relativity

Miguel Alcubierre

Abstract

It is shown how, within the framework of general relativity and without the introduction of wormholes, it is possible to modify a spacetime in a way that allows a spaceship to travel with an arbitrarily large speed. By a purely local expansion of spacetime behind the spaceship and an opposite contraction in front of it, motion faster than the speed of light as seen by observers outside the disturbed region is possible. The resulting distortion is reminiscent of the ``warp drive'' of science fiction. However, just as it happens with wormholes, exotic matter will be needed in order to generate a distortion of spacetime like the one discussed here.

arXiv comments
10 pages, 1 figure. Not previously available in gr-qc
Journal reference
Class.Quant.Grav.11:L73-L77,1994
DOI
doi:10.1088/0264-9381/11/5/001
Subjects
gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

On Hacker News

Linked by 4 identifiable commenters in 9 comments across 6 threads, from Jul 2013 to Dec 2021. Found in 1 HN submission from Jun 2008 to Jun 2008. Open submission discussions.

Comments linking this paper, per year.

Discussed in comments6 threads

  1. No, we didn’t accidentally create a warp bubble 1 comment

    • It does not need /negative matter/ or energy, though. What is needed, in the original, non-scammer-friendly version by Alcubierre is /something/ that can push spacetime in the opposite direction that mass and energy do. At least the original Alcubierre solution, he basically…

      otrahuevadaView on HNParent context

  2. A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics 2 comments

    • So first, I'd like to say thanks for bearing with me here. I know it's probably frustrating when someone you're talking to just... ain't... getting... it... ...which is why I hate to say that I still ain't getting it, lol > Along the path actually taken need not be the case, we…

      yellowappleView on HNParent context

    • Welp, looks like this turned sour again. Whoops! But hey, I tried, I guess. > Can recommend again that you turn to books on this subject Got any recommendations? In fact, I asked you this already, the last time you dickishly suggested I go read books (as if I haven't done that…

      yellowappleView on HNParent context

  3. Scientists announce a physical warp drive is possible 1 comment

    • Causality violations probably aren't really that much of a problem for mathematical physics. Geroch (a very well known and highly cited relativist) takes a shot at this in a short paper considering a "democracy of causal cones" rather than simply the one that matches light: "All…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

  4. Warp Drive News 2 comments

    • I don't know about those exact examples or how to compare them, because the subject doesn't really interest me enough to peruse the material when and if it is ever published, and unlike Bee I don't have a copy to read (or much motivation if I did). The lack of interest hangs on…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

    • If we build heavy Casimir plates near a Cavendish experiment, the latter will point to the former as a normal gravitational source. Rather than claiming that there is a tiny Cavendish apparatus deviation for heavy Casimir plates held close together and in parallel vs the same…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

  5. Alcubierre drive 2 comments

    • Agreed. The pattern could range practically forever, with "B"s appearing for any "A": A: It's a static solution; the warp bubble is eternal. There is no recipe for turning it on or off. A: It's a vacuum solution; there is no "ship" inside, and no matter outside. It is everywhere…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

    • > space expansion and the speed faster than c as a result is possible. Without exotic matter, etc. Except that in order to get the observables right, dark energy is required to keep the galaxy clusters running away from each other faster over time. It's a heavy price that no…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

  6. Faster Than the Speed of Light? 1 comment

    • Your third paragraph is a nice way to think about FTL. Actually it causes quite interesting problems to define FTL, since nothing special happens locally. > But one thing I could not really figure out is whether this so-called FTL travel has the potential to violate causality…

      ykView on HNParent context

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