Warp drive space-time

Abstract

In this paper the problem of the quantum stability of the two-dimensional warp drive spacetime moving with an apparent faster than light velocity is considered. We regard as a maximum extension beyond the event horizon of that spacetime its embedding in a three-dimensional Minkowskian space with the topology of the corresponding Misner space. It is obtained that the interior of the spaceship bubble becomes then a multiply connected nonchronal region with closed spacelike curves and that the most natural vacuum allows quantum fluctuations which do not induce any divergent behaviour of the re-normalized stress-energy tensor, even on the event (Cauchy) chronology horizon. In such a case, the horizon encloses closed timelike curves only at scales close to the Planck length, so that the warp drive satisfies the Ford's negative energy-time inequality. Also found is a connection between the superluminal two-dimensional warp drive space and two-dimensional gravitational kinks. This connection allows us to generalize the considered Alcubierre metric to a standard, nonstatic metric which is only describable on two different coordinate patches.

Traversable acausal retrograde domains in spacetime

“…Finally, spacetimes where timelike curves can travel along superluminal (as described by a distant observer) trajectories can be used to generate closed timelike curves. The Alcubierre warp drive [1] can be used to generate CTCs [4], [8]; as can the Krasnikov tube [5], [12].…”

An Assessment of Faster-Than-Light Spacetimes: Make or Break Issues

“…Not surprisingly, warp drives also engender the appearance of CTCs. 31,82 Technical fixes have been proposed to mitigate against the formation of CTCs in and around the warp bubble by performing some minor modification(s) to the warp field geometry. However, since we previously showed that warp drives may not be technologically practical to implement, we will not consider this issue any further.…”

Weak Energy Condition Violation and Superluminal Travel

“…Reminiscence of an Event Horizon: The appearance of an event horizon becomes evident in the 2-dimensional model of the Alcubierre space-time, with ρ = 0 [10,11,12]. The axis of symmetry coincides with the line element of the spaceship.…”