Warp Drive: A New Approach

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical method for creating a warp drive by manipulating extra-dimensional spacetime to locally alter the cosmological constant, enabling faster-than-light travel with energy limits based on Planck scale physics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept of using higher-dimensional models to engineer spacetime expansion for propulsion, combining cosmology and advanced civilization capabilities.

Findings

Energy requirements are calculated for the warp drive.

An ultimate speed limit is derived from Planck-scale constraints.

The approach suggests a feasible theoretical basis for faster-than-light travel.

Abstract

Certain classes of higher dimensional models suggest that the Casimir Effect is a candidate for the cosmological constant. In this paper we demonstrate that a sufficiently advanced civilization could, in principal, manipulate the radius of the extra dimension to locally adjust the value of the cosmological constant. This adjustment could be tuned to generate an expansion/contraction of spacetime around a spacecraft creating an exotic form of field-propulsion. Due to the fact that spacetime expansion itself is not restricted by relativity, a faster-than-light 'warp drive' could be created. Calculations of the energy requirements of such a drive are performed and an 'ultimate' speed limit, based on the Planckian limits on the size of the extra dimensions is found.