Posted on 05/30/2012 9:27:05 AM PDT by Altariel
Precocious young physicist Aisha Mustafa just patented a new system that could propel spacecrafts to the final frontier without using a drop of fuel.
In short her system taps one of the odder facets of quantum theory, which posits that space isn't really a vacuum. It's really filled with particles and anti-particles that exist for infinitesimally small periods of time before destroying each other. Mustafa thinks she can harness them to create propulsion, resulting in space craft that need little-to-no fuel to maneuver around in space. Fast Company reports:
Mustafa invented a way of tapping this quantum effect via what's known as the dynamic Casimir effect. This uses a "moving mirror" cavity, where two very reflective very flat plates are held close together, and then moved slightly to interact with the quantum particle sea. It's horribly technical, but the end result is that Mustafa's use of shaped silicon plates similar to those used in solar power cells results in a net force being delivered. A force, of course, means a push or a pull and in space this equates to a drive or engine.
Propulsion in space is incredibly easy to achieve because there aren't any particles to get in the way, but until now we've been completely reliant on engines to do the work. Engines create propulsion by burning chemical fuels—these fuels are heavy and expensive, making some of the crazy exploration we'd like to do impossible. Mustafa's system could let the laws physics do the heavy-lifting instead.
Of course, Mustafa needs to work on the design much more and figure out how to get funding for the ambitious adventure. We hope some organization with deep pockets steps up because the science is remarkable.
Flying Carpet?
Let’s hope she leaves the country before the Brotherhood bans women from the workplace.
This sounds like a concept described by Arthur C. Clarke in “Songs of Distant Earth”.
That sure leaves a big gapping hole for this story to fall into.
Too late. I’m completing a Bussard Ramjet in my garage.
I just need to figure out how to connect the ‘70’s SF author MacGuffin, and it will be done.
None?
And, hold your hands up high, who thinks this is just another "see, Muslims do science too" story to pump up the Muzzies in Egypt so that the Muslim Brotherhood doesn't seem so scary?
Looks pretty unanimous to me.
“Doc” Travis Taylor beat her this by a looooong way.
not that official “education” will ever do a genius much good, but in her case it won’t matter because being of the inferior class she won’t be allowed to go to a college anyway....
No she invented the matter/ anti-matter engine for the Starship Enterprise, and the guys on the "Big Bang Theory" are gonna be PI$$ED that she did it before them.
That was a good read as I recall but he was far from the first with an innovative drive. I think my favorite is still the X metal and copper drive of ee smith.
I liked it when one of the Skylarks shot it out with an entire galaxy - and the hero was upset because it was a draw!
But I'm sure Mustafa has made a working model.
Otherwise, she hasn't really "invented" it yet, has she?
-PJ
Don’t trust a physicist who obviously doesn’t understand the First Law of Thermodyamics.
1. You can’t win
2. You can’t break even
3. You can’t get out of the game
Bussard Ramjet? Ya.
On that premise, I once calculated how much hydrogen could be gathered up by a 1 square meter scoop swept from here to Alpha Centauri.
0.01g.
Not happening.
I have not seen any technical article about it, so I can not say anything except that there is probably a similar device described here http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20110023492
We’re gonna need a bigger scoop.
Sounds a bit like the “Infinite Improbability Drive”
I’m willing to give it a chance if she can prove she used Bistromathics in the development.
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