Gravitational Radiation and its Application to Space Travel, principles and required scientific developments

Abstract

Gravitational radiation is an elusive form of radiation predicted by general relativity, it is the subject of intense theoretical and experimental research at the limit of the sensitivity of today's instrumentation. In spite of the fact that no direct evidence of this radiation now exist, observed astrophysical phenomena have given convincing proofs of its existence. Theories predict that gravitational radiation may also be employed for propulsion, moreover the nonlinear behaviour of spacetime may permit the generation of spacetime singularities with colliding beams of gravitational radiation, this phenomenon could become a form of propellantless propulsion. Both applications would require gravitational wave generators with high power and appropriate optical properties. Among the proposed techniques that could be applicable to the production of gravitational waves, a promising one is the possible emission of gravitons by quantum systems. A hypothesis describing the production of gravitons in s-wave/d-wave superconductor junction is presented.