Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Research

These works investigate two approaches to a breakthrough in propellantless propulsion.
One is inertial induction, the exchange of momentum with the distant universe,
within the framework of the known laws of gravity.
The other is coupling of electromagnetism and gravity in the Kaluza theory,
the only unified field theory to include general relativity.

Inductive Rectilinear Frame Dragging and Local Coupling to the Gravitational Field of the Universe

August 2021 — Investigation with Nathan Inan of Hubble drag, a cosmological force long known from galaxy cluster dynamics. We show how when the force is viewed in the rest frame of a moving body, the force can be understood as the first known example of rectilinear inductive frame dragging. We show carefully how the gravitational field of the universe absorbs the momentum of a moving body, still within the context of the Equivalence Principle. We find Hubble drag can in principle be detected through local measurements, and therefore the expansion of the universe can be measured without looking at distant galaxies.

Maxwellian Mirages in General Relativity

June 2021 — Study with Nathan Inan of the linear field equations and force equations of general relativity, and their analogs to Maxwellian electromagnetism, “gravitoelectromagnetism”. The Maxwellian analogs are often misappropriated, leading to mathematical mirages that are not present in reality. Waves in the gravitoelectromagnetic fields are the most notorious of the mirages. The paper includes a nice technicolor map of the physical degrees of freedom of the linear gravitational field, in mirage-free coordinates.

Presence of inertial induction in general relativity

Presentation to
American Physical Society
2021 Spring Meeting
19 April 2021

Null-result Test for Effect on Weight from Large Electrostatic Charge

March 2021 — Report of lab testing by George Hathaway for effect on weight from electrostatic charge up to 200 kV, as predicted by the Nov. 2020 paper. We interpret this as the first experimental falsification of the classical Kaluza theory for the weak-field regime in which the theory otherwise matches standard physics. Yet we hold out the possibility of a theoretical error in the scalar field coupling. This was the first experiment of its kind reported in the scientific literature. Therefore we consolidated other similar tests and suggested an electrogravitic parameterization to organize them. By this measure, parameters less than 1 have never been tested.

Long-Range Scalar Forces in Five-Dimensional General Relativity

November 2020 — Third paper in a trilogy on the classical Kaluza theory under the cylinder condition. Here the Kaluza scalar charge is calculated for the first time. Planetary masses are predicted to be clothed in scalar field energy, as Dicke found. Large electro-gravitic forces are predicted in the planetary scalar field, but are not observed. Yet a long-range scalar field seems likely to exist, and would have gone undetected so far…

An Experimental Test of the Classical Interpretation of the Kaluza Fifth Dimension

October 2020 — Test by Martin Tajmar of time dilation inside an electrically-charged enclosure, interpreted within the Kaluza theory, with a macroscopic, open fifth dimension.

Long-range scalar forces in five-dimensional general relativity

Presentation to
American Physical Society
Four Corners Section 2020 Meeting
23 October 2020

Field Equations and Lagrangian of the Kaluza Energy-Momentum Tensor

May 2020 — First correct formulation of the matter Lagrangian for the Kaluza field equations, based on principles of 5D covariance. This is the second paper in a trilogy, starting with the exposition of the field Lagrangian in 2015.

The Hunt for Gravity Control Physics

A search for anti-gravity physics, inspired by Nick Cook’s search for anti-gravity technology, The Hunt for Zero Point.

Kaluza Theory in a Nutshell

A mathematical summary of the Kaluza unified theory of gravity and electromagnetism

Coupling of Electromagnetism
and Gravity:
Where to Search for a
Propulsion Breakthrough

Presentation to Advanced Propulsion IAP, 16 January 2019

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Pursuit of Inertial Induction:
Propellantless Propulsion within
the Known Laws of Gravity

Presentation to Advanced Propulsion IAP, 14 January 2019

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Bringing Inertial Induction Theory
In from the Cold

The parable of Sciama,
and the rise & fall of Maxwellian gravity

Presentation in Estes Park, Colorado,
11 September 2018

Is Propellantless Propulsion
Through Gravitational Induction
Possible in General Relativity?

Presentation to
American Physical Society
Spring 2018 Meeting
Columbus, Ohio
17 April 2018

Estes Park
Advanced Propulsion Workshop,
20-22 September 2016

Proceedings, video, and pre-conference tutorials

Field Equations and Lagrangian for the Kaluza Metric, Evaluated with Tensor Algebra Software

2015 — Among the first English-language expositions of the full field equations of the 5-dimensional Kaluza theory under the cylinder condition, obtained using a tensor algebra package (xTensor for Mathematica). This allowed verification of other results in the literature. In retrospect, only papers by Ferrari (1989), and by Coquereaux & Esposito-Farese (1990), obtained the expressions for the curvature tensors and Lagrangian verified here.

The gzipped .nb file is here

Five-Dimensional Relativity and
the Nature of the 5th Dimension

Presentation to STAIF 2 Conference,
Albuquerque, NM, 19 April 2014

Back to the Future:
Rise of the Scalar Field
and its Implications
for Interstellar Travel

Presentation to Icarus Interstellar Starship Congress,
Dallas, TX, 18 August 2013

Watch the video on the Icarus Youtube channel here

An extended paper based on the presentation published by the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society,
v68, March/April 2015

Physics of the Electromagnetic Control of Spacetime and Gravity

Paper presented to AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference,
Atlanta, GA, 30 July 2012

Slides from the presentation are here

Electromagnetic Control of Spacetime and Gravity: The Hard Problem of Interstellar Travel

2012 — Review article published in The Astronomical Review

Variation of the Gravitational Constant in the Radiation-Dominated Universe

2011 — Research article published
in Physics Research International

Analytical Expressions for the Gravitational Constant

2009 — A review of Brandenburg’s expression for the gravitational constant in terms of the electron mass, the proton mass, and the fine structure constant, and a comparison to similar results.

The Nature of the Fifth Dimension in Classical Relativity

Paper presented to Space, Propulsion, and
Energy Sciences International Forum,
Huntsville, AL, 26 February 2009

Slides from the presentation are here

Errata are here.

NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Report

Report of the 1997 Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program, led by Marc Millis at NASA Lewis Research Center, and funded by NASA Marshall

Millis’s paper on the Challenge to Create the Space Drive (1997) is here