tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Oct 28 08:57:10 1994

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Nonexistent words...Part 2



Well, you wanted to see it in context, so HERE IT IS...

                  AHEAD WARP FACTOR 9 ... ENGAGE!

   The creators of Star Trek apparently knew a thing or two. A British
researcher realised it is possible to create a warp drive without
breaking the laws of physics.

   "I was watching Star Trek and I thought there must be a way of doing
this right" says Miguel Alcubierre (University of Wales, Cardiff). His
method relies on the three dimensions of ordinary space and the fourth
as time. Previously, researchers imagined this as only possible by
travelling through a wormhole, which is a shortcut through space.
Alcubierre's method is tidier, however it involves expanding and
contracting space and time near the starship.

   Imagine a starship making a voyage to Alpha Centauri and back, of
total distance 8.6 light years. However, the apparent time slows down
as its velocity approaches that of light. As a result a phenomenon known
as the "Twin Paradox" occurs. Imagine a person on a starship and one on
Earth. When the the first person returns, he would appear younger than
the other person.

   Now Alcubierre has worked out a method of travelling equally fast but
without exceeding the speed of light.Previously this had been thought
impossible. Space and time can be visualised as a rubber sheet that is
warped near massive objects. The idea is to stretch space behind the
starship and squash space in front of it. As a result, space-time will
itself pull the starship along.

   Alcubierre adds that the requirement of some material that causes a
violent repulsion to gravity does not necessarily rule out this method
of hyperfast travel.

[Adapted rom an article in New Scientist, "Surfing to the stars on
 warped space"] - couln't leave out the credits!

...Well...it's a bit long, but that's AUSF&F for you.

- toDbaj



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