The Blue Box White Paper

TL;DR

This white paper explains the concept of the TARDIS time machine using Einstein's theory of curved spacetime, reviewing various spacetime structures and discussing the physical and practical limitations of constructing such a device.

Contribution

It introduces the TARDIS as a spacetime bubble for time travel, combining popular spacetime models with lay explanations and discussing its theoretical properties and limitations.

Findings

TARDIS is a spacetime bubble traveling along a closed loop.

Travel within TARDIS involves constant acceleration.

Physical limitations may prevent construction of a TARDIS.

Abstract

This white paper is an explanation of Ben and Dave's TARDIS time machine, written for laypeople who are interested in time travel, but have no technical knowledge of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. The first part of this paper is an introduction to the pertinent ideas from Einstein's theory of curved spacetime, followed by a review of other popular time machine spacetimes. We begin with an introduction to curvature and lightcones. We then explain the Alcubierre Warp Drive, the Morris-Thorne wormhole, and the Tipler cylinder. We then describe the Traversable Achronal Retrograde Domain in Spacetime (TARDIS), and explain some of its general properties. Our TARDIS is a bubble of spacetime curvature which travels along a closed loop in space and time. A person travelling within the bubble will feel a constant acceleration. A person outside of the TARDIS will see two bubbles: one which is evolving forwards in time, and one which is evolving backwards in time. We then discuss the physical limitations which may prevent us from ever constructing a TARDIS. Finally, we discuss the method through which a TARDIS can be used to travel between arbitrary points in space and time, and the possible dangers involved with exiting a TARDIS from the wrong side. Before we begin, would you like a Jelly Baby?