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TL;DR: "We infer that the EM drive expels photons in pairs where the two co-propagate with 180 degree phase difference. These composite bosons have no net elect
by virgil_disgr4ce 10y ago
TL;DR: "We infer that the EM drive expels photons in pairs where the two co-propagate with 180 degree phase difference. These composite bosons have no net electromagnetic field, and hence they do not reflect back from the resonator’s metal walls, but escape to surroundings. The paired-photon efflux carries momentum, and hence the cavity experiences an equal but opposite reaction. Thus, we claim that the thrust of an EM drive is the action due to the paired-photon efflux."
"Our conjecture means that the EM drive converts the microwave-band photon propellant to the paired-photon expellant."
- maxander 10y agoI'd long wondered what would happen if you superimposed two lasers, say, offset so that they would cancel each other out over their whole trajectory. It seemed like a violation of conservation of energy, but if "paired photons" like this are considered to still exist despite being "cancelled out" it makes more sense. Which raises an interesting question- are paired photons a candidate for dark matter? The paper might discuss this, but from an I'm-at-work-and-also-a-layman glance I can't make much of the sections on the vacuum and inertia.