Chapters authored
Keeping the Dream Alive: Is Propellant-less Propulsion Possible?
“Breakthrough” advanced propulsion can only take place with a correct understanding of the role of inertia in general relativity. Einstein was convinced that inertia and gravitation were the obverse and reverse of the coin. The most general statement of the principle of relativity, captured in his Equivalence Principle and the gravitational induction of inertia. His ideas and how they have fared are reprised. A rest mass fluctuation that is expected when inertia is gravitationally induced is then mentioned that can be used for propulsion. Recent work supported by National Innovative Advanced Concepts Phase 1 and 2 NASA grants to determine whether thrusters based on gravitationally induced inertia can actually be made to work is presented. A recent design innovation has dramatically increased the thrust produced by these Mach Effect Gravity Assist (MEGA) impulse engines.
Part of the book: Propulsion
Gravity and Inertia in General Relativity
The relationship of gravity and inertia has been an issue in physics since Einstein, acting on an observation of Ernst Mach that rotations take place with respect to the “fixed stars”, advanced the Equivalence Principle (EP). The EP is the assertion that the forces that arise in proper accelerations are indistinguishable from gravitational forces unless one checks ones circumstances in relation to distant matter in the universe (the fixed stars). By 1912, Einstein had settled on the idea that inertial phenomena, in particular, inertial forces should be a consequence of inductive gravitational effects. About 1960, five years after Einstein’s death, Carl Brans pointed out that Einstein had been mistaken in his “spectator matter” argument. He inferred that the EP prohibits the gravitational induction of inertia. I argue that while Brans’ argument is correct, the inference that inertia is not an inductive gravitational effect is not correct. If inertial forces are gravitationally induced, it should be possible to generate transient gravitational forces of practical levels in the laboratory. I present results of a experiment designed to produce such forces for propulsive purposes.
Part of the book: Gravitational Field