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The Physics and Technology of Warp Propulsion
The technology of Star Trek, albeit usually governed by the drama and sometimes misused as a mere plot device with arbitrary characteristics, may be more scientifically correct and consequential than it seems at the first glance. The following article is an attempt to further elucidate warp travel, one of the most popular concepts. It is trivial but important to note that suspending disbelief is the key to accept and understand fictional technology. Anyone who applies criteria like "warp drive is impossible because subspace doesn't exist" will probably never enjoy science fiction.
This will be a comprehensive treatise on all the effects seen in the show, the underlying Trek-specific principles as well as related real science. Only the introduction, chapters 1, 6 and the appendix are finished thus far, chapter 3 is available as an incomplete draft.
The Physics and Technology of
Warp Propulsion
converted to LaTeX/PDF by Tobias Heintz
|
Introduction
1 Real
Physics and Interstellar Travel 1.1 Classical Physics Newton's laws of motion, Gravitation, Momentum conservation, Energy conservation, Second law of thermodynamics, Doppler shift, Particle-wave dualism 1.2 Special Relativity Frames of reference, Space-time diagram, Time dilation, Length contraction, Addition of velocities, Mass increase, Mass-energy equivalence, Light cone 1.3 Twin Paradox The problem, Part 1: moving away from Earth, Part 2: resting in space, Part 3: return to Earth 1.4 Causality Paradox 1.5 Other Obstacles to FTL Travel Power considerations, Acceleration and deceleration, Doppler shift 1.6 General Relativity Inertial frames, Principle of equivalence, Time dilation, Curved space, Speed of light, Black holes 1.7 Examples of Relativistic Travel A trip to Proxima Centauri, Traveling to the edge of the universe, Fuel problems
2
Hypothetical FTL Concepts2.1 Folding/Wrinkling/Compressing Space 2.2 Hyperspace Conduits and Wormholes General concept, Bajoran Wormhole, Barzan Wormhole, Warp field wormholes, Micro wormhole 2.3 Other FTL Concepts Changing the speed of light, Reducing the ship's mass to zero, Tachyons
3 Subspace
(Draft)3.1 What is Subspace? Preliminary remark, Definition, Subspace vs. hyperspace 3.2 Subspace Models Continuous vs. discrete model, Inside subspace, The far end 3.3 Subspace Fields and Warp Fields Premise, Subspace field, Symmetric warp field, Asymmetric warp field, Multilayered warp field, Warp factors, Energy conservation, Subspace submersion and transwarp 3.4 Subspace Technology Subspace radio, Subspace relay, FTL sensors, Subspace transporter, Subspace proximity detonator, Subspace mine, Subspace cloak 3.5 Subspace Phenomena Verterons, Tetryons, Warp particles, Static warp field, Subspace shockwave, Protouniverse, Subspace rift, Subspace rupture, Subspace vacuole, Solanagen-based entities, Nacene, Photonic beings |
4 History of Warp Propulsion 4.1 Vulcans and Romulans 4.2 Cochrane's First Warp Flight (2063) 4.3 22nd Century 4.4 23rd Century 4.5 24th Century 4.6 Voyager's Experimental Drives 4.7 Possible Future Developments 5 Warp Technology5.1 Power Generation and Transfer Plasma, Fusion power, Matter/antimatter reaction, Artificial quantum singularity 5.2 Warp Field Generation Warp nacelles & coils, Subspace damage 5.3 Other Warp Propulsion Warp sustainer engine, Soliton wave, Subspace resonator, Bajoran solar sailing ship, Coaxial warp drive 5.4 Transwarp Excelsior transwarp, Voth transwarp, Borg transwarp, "Threshold" transwarp, Q, The Traveler, Iconian portals, Cytherian subspace folding, Caretaker displacement wave, Sikarian space-folding device, Subspace funnel, Subspace catapult, Quantum slipstream drive 6 Warp
Speed Measurement 6.1 Concept of Warp Factors Definition, Background 6.2 TOS Scale (23rd Century) Definition, Range, Background, Use in Star Trek Enterprise, Problems 6.3 TNG Scale (24th Century) Definition up to Warp 9, Definition between Warp 9 and 10, Background, Problems 6.4 Conjectural Future Scale Definition, Background
7 Appendix7.1 Fundamental Constants 7.2 Glossary 7.3 References 7.4 Credits |
 Jason Hinson's Physics and Star Trek Page for the most sophisticated theory on FTL travel and subspace |
Joshua Bell's Star Trek Page for the Warp and Subspace FAQ |
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