Experimental Concepts for Generating Negative Energy in the Laboratory

Abstract. Implementation of faster-than-light (FTL) interstellar travel via traversable wormholes, warp drives, or other spacetime modification schemes generally requires the engineering of spacetime into very specialized local geometries. The analysis of these via Einstein's General Theory of Relativity (GTR) field equations plus the resultant equations of state demonstrate that such geometries require the use of "exotic" matter in order to induce the requisite FTL spacetime modification. Exotic matter is generally defined by GTR physics to be matter that possesses (renormalized) negative energy density, and this is a very misunderstood and misapplied term by the non-GTR community. We clear up this misconception by defining what negative energy is, where it can be found in nature, and we also review the experimental concepts that have been proposed to generate negative energy in the laboratory

Estimates for a class of oscillatory integrals and decay rates for wave-type equations

This paper investigates higher order wave-type equations of the form $\partial_{tt}u+P(D_{x})u=0$, where the symbol $P(\xi)$ is a real, non-degenerate elliptic polynomial of the order $m\ge4$ on ${\bf R}^n$. Using methods from harmonic analysis, we first establish global pointwise time-space estimates for a class of oscillatory integrals that appear as the fundamental solutions to the Cauchy problem of such wave equations. These estimates are then used to establish (pointwise-in-time) $L^p-L^q$ estimates on the wave solution in terms of the initial conditions

Classical interpretation of the Debye law for the specific heat of solids

We derive the Debye law for the specific heat of solids within the realm of stochastic electrodynamics (i.e., classical electrodynamics with the assumption of a real zero-point field). Random lattice vibrations are generated by the Planck radiation including zero point, which is absorbed by the ions. The equilibrium is accomplished by a fluctuation-dissipation mechanism due to the emission of radiation by the ions in accelerated motion

A toy model of the five-dimensional universe with the cosmological constant

A value of the cosmological constant in a toy model of the five-dimensional universe is calculated in such a manner that it remains in agreement with both astronomical observations and the quantum field theory concerning the zero-point fluctuations of the vacuum. The (negative) cosmological constant is equal to the inverse of the Planck length squared, which means that in the toy model the vanishing of the observed value of the cosmological constant is a consequence of the existence of an energy cutoff exactly at the level of the Planck scale. In turn, a model for both a virtual and a real particle-antiparticle pair is proposed which describes properly some energetic properties of both the vacuum fluctuations and created particles, as well as it allows one to calculate the discrete "bare" values of an elementary-particle mass, electric charge and intrinsic angular momentum (spin) at the energy cutoff. The relationships between the discussed model and some phenomena such as the Zitterbewegung and the Unruh-Davies effect are briefly analyzed, too. The proposed model also allows one to derive the Lorentz transformation and the Maxwell equations while considering the properties of the vacuum filled with the sea of virtual particles and their antiparticles. Finally, the existence of a finite value of the vacuum-energy density resulting from the toy model leads us to the formulation of dimensionless Einstein field equations which can be derived from the Lagrangian with a dimensionless (naively renormalized) coupling constant.Comment: 52 pages, 1 figure; a post-final, rewritten version with a number of new remarks and conclusion