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Conformal Gravity and the Alcubierre Warp Drive Metric
Physics Faculty Works
  • Gabriele U. Varieschi, Loyola Marymount University
  • Zily Burstein, Loyola Marymount University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Disciplines
Abstract

We present an analysis of the classic Alcubierre metric based on conformal gravity, rather than standard general relativity. The main characteristics of the resulting warp drive remain the same as in the original study by Alcubierre, that is, effective superluminal motion is a viable outcome of the metric. We show that for particular choices of the shaping function, the Alcubierre metric in the context of conformal gravity does not violate the weak energy condition, as was the case of the original solution. In particular, the resulting warp drive does not require the use of exotic matter. Therefore, if conformal gravity is a correct extension of general relativity, superluminal motion via an Alcubierre metric might be a realistic solution, thus allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel.

Publisher Statement


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Citation Information

Gabriele U. Varieschi and Zily Burstein, “Conformal Gravity and the Alcubierre Warp Drive Metric,” ISRN Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 2013, Article ID 482734, 13 pages, 2013. doi: 10.1155/2013/482734