Any quantum geeks here?
Soo, I've been at this for awhile now, and would like a pair of second eyes on this. I'll list the subject matters first, then the theoretical situation afterwards (which may not be so theoretical in the next 15 years.. ie: 2030 and the different Mars missions:
Quantum Entanglement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement)
Binary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_code)
Digital Communications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transmission)
Ion Propulsion (http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/ion_prop.asp)
Ion Potential Maximum Speeds (http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/12346/ion-drive-propulsion-top-speed)
Theory of Relativity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativity)
Time Dilation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation)
Theoretical "Warp" Drive (http://goo.gl/X9FBXw)
Ok, read the above, then come back to this post.
Well then, I presume if you were not familiar with the subjects, you are now. Let's talk first about propulsion systems. The current designs and fuel limitations of ion drives are fairly elementary at this point (considering maximum possible velocity of ion-based particle drives, which is 1/3 the speed of light). For a second, let us imagine that we created a propulsion drive, ion-based or not, that could reach, say.. 1/10 the speed of light, which is well below the stated maximum potential. Keep this 1/10th the speed of light in mind.
Now, let us talk about time dilation. In space, we have 2 observers. A) The Earth, and B) The astronauts. The faster the astronauts go, the slower time goes for them. So, at our not-so-imaginary 1/10th the speed of light, they will experience a pretty good amount of dilation, right? That was rhetorical, sorry.
Ok, propulsion and time are out of the way, now, let us move on to the next, more interesting topic of quantum entanglement. At the most basic of explanations, you have 2 particles. When particle A changes, particle B changes as well, at the same time, no matter the distance. Now then.. let's talk about change!
Digital communications and binary, 1's and 0's, allowing us to communicate digitally. Wait, wut? When computer A transmits a 1, computer B receives a 1, same with the 0's. Of course, with no lag whatsoever, the speed of the communication is still limited by the medium it is transmitted on, ie: fiber, copper, gold.
Let's mix and match.. digital comm's and quantum entanglement. Now, we have a means of having communications which happens instantly, now matter where the two people are. Instant porn, yay!
With me so far? Good. Let's move onto the question at hand then I suppose.
We enter into a new age. We are now a Type 1 civilization (inter-planetary species), well on the way to becoming a Type 2 civilization (Alpha Centari, here we come!) We have created a propulsion system capable of going 1/10th the speed of light. We have mastered (I'm coining this term here), quantum communications. We launch.
A few days into the launch, we get news stating that our spaceship has crashed into a asteroid. Oh no's.. right? Remember, we are experiencing time faster than the astronauts are. The moment we hear of their death, they are still alive. :shock:
Quantum communications gentlemen. Instant, I mean, instant communication. We, on earth, send out a distress message to the astronauts, which, to us, are dead. They receive the communication, and avert their course. Now, they are no longer in danger. They do not crash into the asteroid.
So, now.. grandfather paradox. What happens?
The only way I can see for that to NOT happen is to fully develop an actual spacetime warping engine, and hope to hell some nutjob doesn't set off the antimatter here on earth.
Am I way out in left field here? What are your thoughts and opinions on the subject?
Quantum Entanglement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement)
Binary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_code)
Digital Communications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transmission)
Ion Propulsion (http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/ion_prop.asp)
Ion Potential Maximum Speeds (http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/12346/ion-drive-propulsion-top-speed)
Theory of Relativity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativity)
Time Dilation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation)
Theoretical "Warp" Drive (http://goo.gl/X9FBXw)
Ok, read the above, then come back to this post.
Well then, I presume if you were not familiar with the subjects, you are now. Let's talk first about propulsion systems. The current designs and fuel limitations of ion drives are fairly elementary at this point (considering maximum possible velocity of ion-based particle drives, which is 1/3 the speed of light). For a second, let us imagine that we created a propulsion drive, ion-based or not, that could reach, say.. 1/10 the speed of light, which is well below the stated maximum potential. Keep this 1/10th the speed of light in mind.
Now, let us talk about time dilation. In space, we have 2 observers. A) The Earth, and B) The astronauts. The faster the astronauts go, the slower time goes for them. So, at our not-so-imaginary 1/10th the speed of light, they will experience a pretty good amount of dilation, right? That was rhetorical, sorry.
Ok, propulsion and time are out of the way, now, let us move on to the next, more interesting topic of quantum entanglement. At the most basic of explanations, you have 2 particles. When particle A changes, particle B changes as well, at the same time, no matter the distance. Now then.. let's talk about change!
Digital communications and binary, 1's and 0's, allowing us to communicate digitally. Wait, wut? When computer A transmits a 1, computer B receives a 1, same with the 0's. Of course, with no lag whatsoever, the speed of the communication is still limited by the medium it is transmitted on, ie: fiber, copper, gold.
Let's mix and match.. digital comm's and quantum entanglement. Now, we have a means of having communications which happens instantly, now matter where the two people are. Instant porn, yay!
With me so far? Good. Let's move onto the question at hand then I suppose.
We enter into a new age. We are now a Type 1 civilization (inter-planetary species), well on the way to becoming a Type 2 civilization (Alpha Centari, here we come!) We have created a propulsion system capable of going 1/10th the speed of light. We have mastered (I'm coining this term here), quantum communications. We launch.
A few days into the launch, we get news stating that our spaceship has crashed into a asteroid. Oh no's.. right? Remember, we are experiencing time faster than the astronauts are. The moment we hear of their death, they are still alive. :shock:
Quantum communications gentlemen. Instant, I mean, instant communication. We, on earth, send out a distress message to the astronauts, which, to us, are dead. They receive the communication, and avert their course. Now, they are no longer in danger. They do not crash into the asteroid.
So, now.. grandfather paradox. What happens?
The only way I can see for that to NOT happen is to fully develop an actual spacetime warping engine, and hope to hell some nutjob doesn't set off the antimatter here on earth.
Am I way out in left field here? What are your thoughts and opinions on the subject?
