Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster

G. Modanese

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster

G. Modanese

Published in International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 2, Issue 6-1)

Received: 21 December 2014 Accepted: 27 December 2014 Published: 27 March 2015

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Abstract

Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10-4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.

Published in	International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 2, Issue 6-1) This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Vacuum, Fundamental Arena of the Universe: Models, Applications and Perspectives
DOI	10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
Page(s)	39-45
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Quantum Gravity, Vacuum Fluctuations, Superconductors, Propellantless Thruster

References

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G. Modanese. (2015). Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 2(6-1), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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ACS Style

G. Modanese. Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2015, 2(6-1), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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AMA Style

G. Modanese. Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2015;2(6-1):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15,
  author = {G. Modanese},
  title = {Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6-1},
  pages = {39-45},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  abstract = {Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10-4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster
AU  - G. Modanese
Y1  - 2015/03/27
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
T2  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JF  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JO  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
SP  - 39
EP  - 45
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-7022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
AB  - Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10-4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6-1
ER  -

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Author Information

G. Modanese

Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, P.za Università 5, Bolzano, Italy

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APA Style

G. Modanese. (2015). Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 2(6-1), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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ACS Style

G. Modanese. Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2015, 2(6-1), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

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AMA Style

G. Modanese. Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2015;2(6-1):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15,
  author = {G. Modanese},
  title = {Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6-1},
  pages = {39-45},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.s.2014020601.15},
  abstract = {Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10-4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster
AU  - G. Modanese
Y1  - 2015/03/27
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
T2  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JF  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JO  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
SP  - 39
EP  - 45
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-7022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.s.2014020601.15
AB  - Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10-4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6-1
ER  -

Copy | Download