Warp Drive With Zero Expansion

TL;DR

This paper challenges the traditional understanding of warp drives by demonstrating a spacetime configuration that achieves warp effects without space expansion or contraction, questioning fundamental assumptions.

Contribution

It introduces a new warp drive spacetime model that operates without the typical space expansion/contraction, expanding theoretical possibilities.

Findings

Warp drive can be modeled without space expansion or contraction.

Traditional warp drive assumptions are not necessary for warp effects.

The paper discusses global and optical properties of the new spacetime.

Abstract

It is commonly believed that Alcubierre's warp drive works by contracting space in front of the warp bubble and expanding space behind it. We show that this expansion/contraction is but a marginal consequence of the choice made by Alcubierre, and explicitly construct a similar spacetime where no contraction/expansion occurs. Global and optical properties of warp drive spacetimes are also discussed.