Slow down Light

thenumbersix

Member
Messages
290
Re: Slow down Light

does not mean they necessarily will achieve light speed. It is predicted to get damn fast rather quickly though.

Am seeing double, been drinking too much...again.
 

systemoftheuniverse

Junior Member
Messages
42
Re: Slow down Light

solar sails that react to gasses escaping the sun?. I mean if you could catch light in a sail, then you could definatly use lazers, powered by solar panels, as a propellant to achieve the speed of light.

unless you think that creating light releases an energy with no equal and opposite force.
 

Harte

Senior Member
Messages
4,562
Re: Slow down Light

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\"systemoftheuniverse\")</div>
solar sails that react to gasses escaping the sun?. I mean if you could catch light in a sail, then you could definatly use lazers, powered by solar panels, as a propellant to achieve the speed of light.

unless you think that creating light releases an energy with no equal and opposite force.[/b]
SOU,
This technology does not involve the use of escaping gasses. Just as you have deduced, it is laser light that is involved.

The use of lasers to propel spacecraft is absolutely doable. In fact, this method is currently being considered for future manned exploration of the solar system. The lasers would be stationary, either in orbit or on the surface, of Earth and other planets or bodies. The idea is to possibly create a grid of such beams in order to establish an entire transportation system. This would of course be far in the future (the grid at least.) Exploration must precede infrastructure.
Harte
 

thenumbersix

Member
Messages
290
Re: Slow down Light

On the very first point of light travelling through the universe, is a good point, light just keeps going unless stopped or reflected by some matter, and maybe other influences.

How far will it go, prolly forever, so long as space is there to provide it with a means

So, what value does light have in the energy stakes ? Someone with the math please help out here ! Is it close to 100% ?

Have read about partial reflection, 4 out of 100 light particles get relected back on any partially reflective surface, is this like a 'rule' of light...
 

systemoftheuniverse

Junior Member
Messages
42
Re: Slow down Light

but light cannot be trapped. It bounces off objects or is absorbed into energy. When it does bounce does it lose momentum? So not all light goes at the speed of light? How can it transfer momentum if it doesn't lose it? If light has weight, how can it travel in a two dementional wave? If the wave is three dementional, wouldn't that mean has a third element that we cannot detect?
 

MadIce

New Member
Messages
24
Re: Slow down Light

In a recent paper, Mallett found a solution of the Einstein equations in which closed timelike curves (CTC's) are present in the empty space outside an infinitely long cylinder of light moving in circular paths around an axis. Here we show that, for physically realistic energy densities, the CTC's occur at distances from the axis greater than the radius of the visible universe by an immense factor. We then show that Mallett's solution has a curvature singularity on the axis, even in the case where the intensity of the light vanishes. Thus it is not the solution one would get by starting with Minkowski space and establishing a cylinder of light.
Can a circulating light beam produce a time machine? by Ken D. Olum, Allen Everett.

It seems the above paper doesn't agree with Mallett.
 

Harte

Senior Member
Messages
4,562
Re: Slow down Light

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\"thenumbersix\")</div>
I think Ronald Mallet and his work is relevant here[/b]
Indeed Six, Mallet is the researcher thatTheoreticalUknown was referring to in his earlier post.

Harte
 

thenumbersix

Member
Messages
290
Re: Slow down Light

I think he is using mirrors. It is gravity he wants to alter. Maybe after has a fat tube of super gravity he'll run another beam round the outside of it.....Now that would be something to see....
 

Top