Warp Drive: A New Approach torrent

Richard Obousy, Gerald Cleaver
(Submitted on 11 Dec 2007 (v1), last revised 16 Dec 2007 (this version, v3))

Abstract: Certain classes of higher dimensional models suggest that the
Casimir Effect is a candidate for the cosmological constant. In this paper we
demonstrate that a sufficiently advanced civilization could, in principal,
manipulate the radius of the extra dimension to locally adjust the value of the
cosmological constant. This adjustment could be tuned to generate an
expansion/contraction of spacetime around a spacecraft creating an exotic form of
field-propulsion. Due to the fact that spacetime expansion itself is not
restricted by relativity, a faster-than-light 'warp drive' could be created.
Calculations of the energy requirements of such a drive are performed and an
'ultimate' speed limit, based on the Planckian limits on the size of the extra
dimensions is found.