NASA confirms(?) EmDrive - can pilot wave carry momentum?

In summary, NASA has recently published a paper claiming confirmation of the "impossible drive" or EM drive, which violates Newton's third law. This is based on their hypothesis that the momentum is carried by pilot waves, as demonstrated in Couder's experiments. However, there is no well-developed theory or experimental evidence to support this claim. Due to this controversy, the topic has been banned from discussion on the Physics Forums website.
  • #1
jarekduda
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It is hard not to hear that NASA has just published paper claiming confirmation of "impossible drive" - closed resonant chamber:
http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/full/10.2514/1.B36120
http://www.sciencealert.com/it-s-of...wed-em-drive-paper-has-finally-been-published
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/nasas-peer-reviewed-paper-on-the-emdrive-is-now-online

Not to violate 3rd Newton's law, their main hypothesis is that this momentum is carried by pilot waves - they cite Couder's experiments ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrodynamic_quantum_analogs ), nicely explained in this Veritasium video:


In contrast to EM waves, pilot waves could escape through metal walls of the resonator - but the question is if they could carry some tiny momentum or energy?
Are there some experimental upper bounds for such momentum or energy?
 
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  • #2
jarekduda said:
In contrast to EM waves, pilot waves could escape through metal walls of the resonator - but the question is if they could carry some tiny momentum or energy?
Are there some experimental upper bounds for such momentum or energy?
These questions are premature, as there's no well-developed theory behind the authors' speculation that pilot waves may allow them to evade Newton's third law and conservation of momentum, and no experimental evidence beyond the claims made in the paper itself.

The em-drive has been and still is on our banned topics list so this thread is closed, at least until we decide when and how to remove it from the list.

See also https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/nasas-em-drive.884753/
 
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Related to NASA confirms(?) EmDrive - can pilot wave carry momentum?

1. What is the EmDrive and what has NASA confirmed about it?

The EmDrive is a controversial propulsion system that claims to produce thrust without any propellant. NASA has not yet confirmed the existence of this technology, but there have been recent studies that suggest it may indeed produce thrust.

2. How does the EmDrive work?

The EmDrive works by bouncing microwaves around inside a cone-shaped chamber, causing a difference in radiation pressure that may result in thrust. However, the exact mechanism behind this thrust is still not fully understood.

3. Has NASA officially confirmed the EmDrive as a viable technology for space travel?

No, NASA has not officially confirmed the EmDrive as a viable technology for space travel. While there have been studies that suggest it may produce thrust, further research and testing is needed to fully understand and validate its effectiveness.

4. What is pilot wave theory and how does it relate to the EmDrive?

Pilot wave theory is an interpretation of quantum mechanics that suggests particles have a physical form, rather than just being a wave of probability. Some scientists believe that this theory could potentially explain how the EmDrive produces thrust, but more research is needed to fully understand this connection.

5. Could the EmDrive revolutionize space travel?

If the EmDrive is proven to be a viable technology, it could potentially revolutionize space travel by allowing for more efficient and cost-effective propulsion systems. However, more research and testing is needed to determine its feasibility and potential impact on space exploration.

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