SPACE, TIME AND FUNDAMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Warp Drive and General Relativity

Guts A.K.

The article presents an overview of the results in the field of the theory of superfast interstellar flights by the Earth clock, which are perceived as superluminal movements. Ships for such flights are equipped with warp engines. Movements with and without changing the topology of space are discussed. The mathematical apparatus for describing such movements is the general theory of relativity, since the warp engine corresponds to the choice of the space-time metric. The Alcubierre warp engine and other similar solutions are presented, in which, however, there is a violation of energy conditions, i.e. the corresponding ships need exotic matter as fuel. The Lenz warp engine is described, which, apparently, does not violate energy conditions. Movements due to a change in topology by generating 4-dimensional and 3-dimensional wormholes are considered; the first method does not require exotic matter. During the transition of the Alcubierre warp engine to superluminal mode, the topology changes – the warp ship goes into a wormhole.