James F. Woodward

Flux Capacitors and the Origin of Inertia

The explanation of inertia based on “Machs principle” is briefly revisited and an experiment whereby the gravitational origin of inertia can be tested is described. The test consists of detecting a small stationary force with a sensitive force sensor. The force is presumably induced when a periodic transient Mach effect mass fluctuation is driven in high voltage, high energy density capacitors that are subjected to 50 kHz, 1.3 kV amplitude voltage signal, and threaded by an alternating magnetic flux of the same frequency. An effect of the sort predicted is shown to be present in the device tested. It has the expected magnitude and depends on the relative phase of the Mach effect mass fluctuation and the alternating magnetic flux as expected. The observed effect also displays scaling behaviors that are unique to Mach effects. Other tests for spurious signals suggest that the observed effect is real.

Measurements of a Machian transient mass fluctuation

The prediction of a novel transient mass fluctuation expected in relativistic theories of gravitation that satisfy the “globally-local” Mach condition (that the cosmic gravitational potential is roughly equal to the square of the speed of light) is set forth. Cosmological consequences of the Mach condition are mentioned, and an experiment that tests the prediction is discussed. The apparatus, procedure, and results of this experiment are described. The predicted effect is seen with better than order of magnitude accuracy.

A new experimental approach to Mach's principle and relativistic graviation

As noted many years ago by Sciama, and more recently by Nordtvedt, Lorentz invariant (relativistic) gravitation at linear order involves a vector potential that is required to properly account for large inertial effects as well as the correct prediction of the classical tests of general relativity theory (GRT). It is pointed out that the linear-order vector aspect of the gravitational potential makes possible a simple, powerful and inexpensive technique for testing the predictions of GRT and associated issues. An experiment using this technique gives preliminary results that, to order of magnitude, corroborate GRT.

TWEAKING FLUX CAPACITORS

Mass fluctuations that arise from Mach effects when objects that can store internal energy are accelerated and their application to the production of propellantless thrusts are discussed. A follow‐on experiment to that reported at STAIF 2004 is described. An effect of the sort expected continues to be observed. And it displays scaling behavior distinctive to Mach effects.

Gravity, Inertia, and Quantum Vacuum Zero Point Fields

Over the past several years Haisch, Rueda, and others have made the claim that the origin of inertial reaction forces can be explained as the interaction of electrically charged elementary particles with the vacuum electromagnetic zero-point field expected on the basis of quantum field theory. After pointing out that this claim, in light of the fact that the inertial masses of the hadrons reside in the electrically chargeless, photon-like gluons that bind their constituent quarks, is untenable, the question of the role of quantum zero-point fields generally in the origin of inertia is explored. It is shown that, although non-gravitational zero-point fields might be the cause of the gravitational properties of normal matter, the action of non-gravitational zero-point fields cannot be the cause of inertial reaction forces. The gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces is then briefly revisited. Recent claims critical of the gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces by Haisch and his collaborators are then shown to be without merit.

A laboratory test of Mach's principle and strong-field relativistic gravity

A laboratory experiment that tests the validity of Machs principle — the relativity and gravitational induction of inertia — and relativistic gravity in strong-field circumstances is described. It consists of looking for a stationary shift in the apparent weight of an object when a transient mass fluctuation is induced in one of its parts, that part then being subjected to a pulsed thrust. The transient mass fluctuation induced is of the order of a few tens of milligrams, and the stationary weight shift observed is several milligrams. Details of the apparatus used (capable of detecting an effect at the level of about a tenth of a milligram) are presented. Procedural protocols are laid out. The results obtained — signals some 10 to 15 times the standard error in magnitude — confirm to better than order of magnitude that the predicted effect is indeed present. The consequences of this confirmation of Machs principle and relativistic gravity are briefly addressed. In particular, it is pointed out that in light of these results “radical timelessness” seems to be the correct way to understand reality and, from the practical point-of-view, it may prove possible to make traversable wormholes whenever we choose to devote sufficient resources to that end.

A stationary apparent weight shift from a transient Machian mass fluctuation

A transient mass fluctuation, predicted by Lorentz-invariant theories of gravitation wherein inertia is gravitationally induced, can be combined with a synchronous thrust to produce a stationary change in the apparent weight of an object. A substantial effect of this sort—on the order of tenths of a gram or more—should be achievable in laboratory scale apparatus. A detailed derivation of the predicted transient mass fluctuation is given in an appendix.

Mach’s Principle, Flux Capacitors, and Propulsion

Mass fluctuations that arise from Mach effects when objects that can store internal energy are accelerated and their application to the production of propellantless thrusts are briefly reviewed. Follow‐on experimental work to that reported at STAIF 2004 and 2005 is described. In particular, thrusts in “flux capacitors” made with high voltage disk capacitors wound with coils that produce a magnetic flux therein were sought. An effect of the sort expected continues to be observed. And it displays scaling behavior distinctive to the presence of Mach effects. Various tests for the genuineness of the observed thrusts are described and discussed. The observed effect suggests that the objective of this work, useful propellantless propulsion, may be achievable.

What is the Cause of Inertia

The question of the cause of inertial reaction forces and the validity of “Machs principle” are investigated. A recent claim that the cause of inertial reaction forces can be attributed to an interaction of the electrical charge of elementary particles with the hypothetical quantum mechanical “zero-point” fluctuation electromagnetic field is shown to be untenable. It fails to correspond to reality because the coupling of electric charge to the electromagnetic field cannot be made to mimic plausibly the universal coupling of gravity and inertia to the stress-energy-momentum (i.e., matter) tensor. The gravitational explanation of the origin of inertial forces is then briefly laid out, and various important features of it explored in the last half-century are addressed.

Life Imitating “Art”: Flux Capacitors, Mach Effects, and Our Future in Spacetime

The results of an experiment designed to produce small amounts of “propellantless” thrust using Mach effect mass fluctuations produced by an alternating electric field in high voltage capacitors in conjunction with an externally induced alternating magnetic flux in their dielectric cores are described. Small effects of the sort expected were detected. Several tests to exclude spurious signals were performed.