Theoretical
physics often lifts the sanctions we set on our own imaginations. Whether it's
exploring the possibility of warp drives or understanding the rate of the Universe's expansion, we are quick to explore
the unknown on our chalkboards until our tech is ready for our ideas.
In
a similar deep-dive into the theoretical, a Norwegian professor argues in the
journal Acta Astronautica for the of possibility of photon rockets that can reach 99.999
percent of the speed of light (300,000 km/s [186,000 mph]).
![Image result for NASA's Engines and Possible Speed of Light Propulsion?](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoonCargoShipHiRes-800x618.jpg)
The
paper asserts that, while humanity can't do it anytime soon, we could
potentially build a spacecraft that falls just short of the ultimate speed
limit sometime in the future when the necessary technology is feasible.
Espen
Gaarder Haug is a professor of quantitative finance at the Norwegian
University School of Life Sciences who believes that the math in contemporary
physics isn't too distant from the math in quantitative finance.
This
background gave Haug an unconventional perspective for his
predictions on photon rockets. Haug's paper outlines the mathematics
involved in developing a rocket that could take us to speeds just shy of
light speed by taking cues from projects that utilise photons as driving mechanisms.
Such
a photon rocket could make the idea of deep space travel far more
attainable, and could open up the Universe to the human race. While this idea
may seem improbable, the proposal stays within the limitations of the laws
of natural physics.
Haug
asserts to Forbes that,
as long as none of the fundamental particles travel faster than the speed of
light, then his proposal on spacecraft speed "must also be the absolute
maximum speed limit for a rocket".
However,
Haug makes it clear that we have a long way to go before we can develop
photon rockets that can send materials or people into outer space. While the
promise of using any fuel as long as it can be converted entirely into
light Energy is exciting, we would need a particle accelerator
magnitudes stronger than Europe's Large
Hadron Collider.
This
means that our dreams of traveling to Mars in less than 5 minutes might need to
be put on hold until we have a few major breakthroughs in particle
physics.
En el futuro no viajaremos a la velocidad de la luz, eso será pasado.
ReplyDeleteEn el futuro daremos saltos universales, incluso se podrán dar saltos multi universales.
Las grandes mentes van más allá y dicen que no será necesario, ya que el ser humano del futuro prescindirá de la forma humanoide y se fundirá con el universo para formar parte del todo.