Feb
13
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2/13/2010 12:02 PM
Space is empty, right? A big, sucking vacuum? Well, yes and no. Matter and energy are constantly popping into and out of existence everywhere in the universe, and while these particles are briefly in existence, they do carry energy. What if we could harness this energy? Not only could we get what would amount to basically free (other than the cost of collecting the energy) and unlimited energy, we could use the energy to propel spacecraft through the vacuum of space.
That is the subject of an abstract by H. David Froning to be presented at SPESIF. The talk includes presentations of supercomputer simulations of flight utilizing zero-point quantum vacuum energy, as well as the electromagnetic energies that exist within the vacuum of space.
This is long-term technology, but a breakthrough in this area could dramatically change our civilization.
The complete abstract follows:
This talk describes challenges and possibilities for exploiting the stupendous energetics that may be contained within the zero-point ground state of seemingly “empty” space for meeting Earth’s future power and propulsion needs. It was originally presented at Third International Conference on Future Energy, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC, October 9-10, 2009. Summarized, is early work to define required scales of time and distance over which quantum zero-point energy must be extracted from the vacuum for raped transits over immense distances in space and to meet Earths future energy and transportation needs. Mentioned, are the very
intense zero-point vacuum energetics that exist in addition to those residing in the vacuum’s more well known electromagnetic modes. And University of Adelaide supercomputer simulations of such energetics are shown. Research on specially conditioned electromagnetic fields that can conceivably interact with energetic vacuum energy fields is described. And, computational work, including a flight simulation illustrates that the zero-point quantum vacuum’s negative pressure could conceivably enable much less labored vehicle motion through it.
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