1 research outputs found
Curvature Invariants for the Alcubierre and Nat\'ario Warp Drives
A process for using curvature invariants is applied to evaluate the metrics
for the Alcubierre and the Natario warp drives at a constant velocity.Curvature
invariants are independent of coordinate bases, so plotting these invariants
will be free of coordinate mapping distortions. As a consequence, they provide
a novel perspective into complex spacetimes such as warp drives. Warp drives
are the theoretical solutions to Einstein's field equations that allow the
possibility for faster-than-light (FTL) travel. While their mathematics is well
established, the visualisation of such spacetimes is unexplored. This paper
uses the methods of computing and plotting the warp drive curvature invariants
to reveal these spacetimes. The warp drive parameters of velocity, skin depth
and radius are varied individually and then plotted to see each parameter's
unique effect on the surrounding curvature. For each warp drive, this research
shows a safe harbor and how the shape function forms the warp bubble. The
curvature plots for the constant velocity Natario warp drive do not contain a
wake or a constant curvature indicating that these are unique features of the
accelerating Natario warp drive.Comment: 41 Pages, 15 figure