An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology?

Details An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology? An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology?

Jan 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998aipc..420.1443h&link_type=abstract

Space technology and applications international forum - 1998. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume 420, pp. 1443-1448 (1998).

Statistics

Applications

Electromagnetic Corrections To Strong- And Weak-Interaction Processes, Quantum Electrodynamics

Scientific paper

The basis of most modern technology is the manipulation of electromagnetic phenomena. Haisch, Rueda and Puthoff (1994a) published a controversial but substantive formulation of a concept proposing an explanation of inertia of matter as an electromagnetic phenomenon originating in the zero-point field (ZPF) of the quantum vacuum. This suggests that Newton's equation of motion can be derived from Maxwell's equations of electrodynamics, in that inertial mass is postulated to be not an intrinsic property of matter but rather a kind of electromagnetic drag force (which temporarily is a place holder for a more general quantum vacuum reaction effect) that proves to be acceleration dependent by virtue of the spectral characteristics of the ZPF. Moreover the principle of equivalence implies that in this view gravitation would also be electromagnetic in origin along the lines proposed by Sakharov (1968). A NASA-funded research effort has been underway at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto and at California State University in Long Beach to develop and test these ideas. An effort to generalize the 1994 ZPF-inertia concept into a proper relativistic formulation has been successful. With regard to the goals of the NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program we can, on the basis of the ZPF-inertia concept, definitively rule out one speculatively hypothesized propulsion mechanism: matter possessing negative inertial mass, a concept originated by Bondi (1957). The existence of this is shown to be logically impossible. On the other hand, the linked ZPF-inertia and ZPF-gravity concepts open the conceptual possibility of manipulation of inertia and gravitation, since both are postulated to be electromagnetic phenomena. Whether this will translate into actual technological potential, especially with respect to spacecraft propulsion and future interstellar travel capability, is an open question. The (possibly comparable) time scale for translation of Einstein's E=mc2 mass-energy relation into nuclear technology was approximately four decades. A key question is whether the proposed ZPF-matter interactions generating the phenomenon of mass might involve one or more resonances. This is presently under investigation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An electromagnetic basis for inertia and gravitation: What are the implications for 21st century physics and technology? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1652531