Anomalous Thrust

Fringe space fans flock to dodgy research; learning physics and engineering in order to exploit the wonders of proven scientific phenomena is too much like work, I suppose.

One bit of dodgy research is "quantum vacuum plasma thrusters", promulgated by Harold White's group at NASA's Johnson Space Center. There may be spooky new effects here, but their experiments are not nearly detailed or careful enough to actually measure them while ruling out more likely phenomena.

A paper here: Anomalous Thrust Production from an RF Test Device Measured on a Low-Thrust Torsion Pendulum

Their test devices are shown here:

Device 1

Device 2

device1.jpg

device2.jpg

28 watts, diameter 11 inches ~= 14 cm radius

40 watts, estimated diameter 12 inches

Estimated area 0.123 m2, 230 W/m²

Distribution of heat uncertain,

Shiny, estimated emissivity 0.1

Temperature probably similar

230 = 0.1 * 4.567e-8 * ( T⁴ - (300K)⁴ )

⇒ T = 492K ≈ 220° C

Note that Device 1 is anchored to the microwave source on the right; some heat will flow out the right side, so it will be colder than the left side.

Here is a Crooke's radiometer, AKA a light mill, another device with slightly more heat on one side than the other:

[ATTACH]