The use of a time-space continuum and referring to speeds beyond the capacity of light has been used by science fiction filmmakers for several decades now. It has been able to create fantasies that set theories of interstellar travel. But could humanity ever develop an engine that makes an FTL possible?
Recent research works in warp drives are making this dream a reality today. In essence, by pushing the boundaries set by Einstein of what is possible in terms of speed and by looking at other theoretical frameworks, scientists are getting closer to building the engines that will warp space-time. Now, let’s get into the details of these potential game-changers.
Understanding the groundbreaking science behind warp drives
The extrapolation of warp drive theory is grounded in Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This theory postulates that space-time has material properties that can bend massive bodies and sources of intense energy. In 1994, physicist Miguel Alcubierre introduced anticipation of a “warp bubble” that can only make FTL travel by pushing space in front of a spaceship and pulling it behind.
Unlike an ordinary power system that propels a craft through space, it is more like a ship surfing through space itself and should, in theory, be able to beat the speed limit of light. But this concept has historically implied exotic energy—negative energy, which scientists have yet to discover and has held the idea back for decades.
Earlier this year, a team at Applied Physics proposed an elegant fix that could help make warp drives a reality. Instead of exotic energy, the team suggested a model that creates a warp bubble using gravitational techniques and ordinary matter.
The ‘constant velocity warp drive’ uses a different shift vector distribution to bend space-time to go subluminal without exotic energy. They are not FTL speeds but are good enough to bring humanity closer to the dream of interstellar travel within natural science.
The exciting potential of achieving faster-than-light travel
The constant velocity warp drive is subluminal; however, it does open the door for FTL travel if velocity is increased to greater than light speed. The existing model also forms a stable warp bubble through which one can theoretically travel faster than light speed, but its price is a lot of energy.
Future studies are to minimize such energy requirements, improve the dynamics of warp drives, and consider shooting for faster-than-light travel without negative energy. According to one of the researchers, Jared Fuchs, “This study alters the debate about warp drives, providing formalism for further research into these theories.”
Nevertheless, Einstein’s cosmic speed limit still stands pat. Relativity currently holds that materials cannot travel or exceed the velocity of light in a vacuum because their mass would go to infinity at a velocity equivalent to the speed of light. Nevertheless, a warp drive avoids this by pushing an object not along space-time but altering the space-time fabric instead.
Unlike conventional propulsion systems, which defy Einstein’s laws of physics through acceleration, the warp drive ‘warps’ space, thus performing the function of a warp drive. Still, these new theories are insufficient to reduce the engineering and energy needed to maintain a warp bubble and keep FTL travel a distant dream.
What does the road ahead look like for warp drive technology?
Research conducted by applied physics can be a crucial step in the theoretical and practical realization of theoretical physics. The new model may not necessarily give a possibility of warp-capable starships shortly, but it creates a possibility of boosting space propulsion systems.
While researchers work to understand how gravity fields can influence space-time, they might innovate better ways to develop the warp phenomenon. From this line of research, a way to attain sustainable FTL solutions can now be broadly established, possibly altering how mankind traverses the universe.
