It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but according to one top scientist, spaceships moving with warp are possible.
In a recent study, physicist Dr. Erik Lentz outlined a way in which a rocket could theoretically move faster than light – or more than 186,000 miles per second.
At that speed, astronauts could reach other galaxies within a few years, allowing mankind to colonize distant planets.
Current rocket technology will take approximately 6,300 years to reach Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun.
So-called “warp drives” have been proposed, but often rely on theoretical systems that violate the laws of physics.
This is because according to Einstein’s general theory of relativity, it is physically impossible for anything to move faster than the speed of light.
Dr Lentz, a scientist at Göttingen University in Germany, says his imaginary warp will work within the boundaries of physics.
While other theories rely on ‘exotic’ concepts, such as negative energy, he can circumvent this problem by using a new theoretical particle.
According to a press release from Göttingen University, these hyper-fast “solitons” can move at any velocity while obeying the laws of physics.
A soliton – also known as a ‘warp bubble’ – is a compact wave that acts as a particle while maintaining its shape and moving at a constant velocity.
Dr. Lentz said he boiled up his theory after analyzing existing research and discovering gaps in previous warp drive studies.
He believes that solitons can move faster than light and create a ‘conductive plasma and classical electromagnetic fields’.
Both of these concepts are understood under conventional physics and obey Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Although its warp drive offers the seductive possibility of traveling faster than light, it is currently still very much in the idea phase.
The construction requires enormous amount of energy that is not possible with modern technology.
“The energy savings must be drastic, of about 30 orders of magnitude to be within the modern nuclear fission reactors,” said dr. Lentz said.
“Fortunately, in previous research, various energy-saving mechanisms have been proposed that can reduce the required energy by almost 60 orders.”
The astrophysicist said he is now focusing on cooking up a workable version of the technology.
“This work has moved the problem of faster than light travel one step away from theoretical research in fundamental physics and closer to engineering,” Dr Lentz said.
“The next step is to find out how the astronomical amount of energy needed to reduce within current modern technologies, such as a large modern nuclear fission station. Then we can talk about building the first prototypes. ”
The research was published in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.