A Blueprint for
a Quantum Propulsion Machine, MIT Technology Review, The Physics ArXiv Blog,
12/09/2009.
From the paper's author:
Of course, nobody is
getting a free lunch here. "Although the proposed engine will consume energy for
manipulation of the particles, the propulsion will occur without any loss of
mass," says Feigel. He even suggests, with masterful understatement, that this
might have practical implications.
From the paper:
To
conclude, mechanical action of quantum vacuum on magneto-electric objects may be
observable and have a significant value. Rotation or self-assembly of the
nano-particles is enough to generate a back-action from zero electromagnetic
fluctuations. The amount of momentum that can be extracted from quantum vacuum
by this effect, may have in the future practical implications, depending on
advances in magneto-electric materials.
United States Patent
Application 20110073715 Method and apparatus
for generating propellantless propulsion.
Now the question is would the
patented method be efficient enough and prove practicable? The patent
application date beats the publication date. Any useful application would
likely post date any granted patent expiry date.
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