An Asymmetric Gravitational Wave Propulsion System

Jeffery A. Cameron
Transdimensional Technologies, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama 35801

Abstract
Gravitational wave radiation is generated by the quadrapole moment of matter that is in motion. An
analytical model is constructed to investigate the radiation pattern and radiated power of a single resonant
vibrator cylinder, as compared to that of a phased linear array. The linear array is then evaluated in terms
of phase relationship in order to create an asymmetry in the radiated pattern and hence a directional force.
This is compared to the force of a solar sail in the earth orbital plane.

Introduction metric, then the Riemannian metric is expressed

as
Einstein1 derived the weak-field solution of the g µν = ηµν K hµν
gravitational wave in accordance with the
general and special theories of relativity. This as a first approximation under the weak-field
paper uses this scientific background to describe assumptions, K is Einstein's constant. The
a revolutionary new approach to propulsion. potential of the field can be expressed as
Programmable laser diodes in conjunction with 1
semiconductor materials will be used to generate φuv = huv − ηuv h
a highly directional transverse wave gravitational
2
resulting in the form for 4-space
wave (TWGW) radiator. This asymmetric
TWGW radiator will create a directional force
through the center of mass of the radiating φ aβ = 2 KT aβ
system, thus forming a propellantless propulsion
system.
with retarded potential solutions of the form
Theoretical work indicates the ability to generate
gravitational wave radiation through the φ uv ( x) = ( K / 2π ∫ T uv ( x l , x 0 )
quadrapole moment of matter under stress and
This form will enable the definition of the
strain. The radiation pattern is symmetric about
energy-momentum complex of the gravitational
the center of mass, and the direction of the
field in order to evaluate the radiation energy and
pattern is at right angles to the stress and strain
directivity of the gravitational wave.
vector. The radiation pattern looks like a torus.
The radiated power is very small (10-29) watts);
The Poynting vector of the gravitational wave
however, when a linear sequence of radiators is
can be expressed as
put together and their patterns are allowed to
1
superimpose, the total radiated power can U ol = (−2φ ρσ ,lφ ρσ ,o + φ ,lφ,o )
approach kilowatts. The asymmetry of the 8
radiated pattern is produced by adjusting the The derivatives of the potential fields φ with
phase of the radiators. The resulting power respect to time and space coordinates are
imbalance will produce a force through the expressed by the second and third derivatives of
center of mass of the radiators. In order to the mass tensor.
accomplish this task, high peak power laser
diodes will be used to photo-accoustically drive
thin-film resonators. It becomes imperative to mc 2 ≡ ∫∫∫ T 00 ( x ', xG0 )d 3 x '
understand the energy flow between the laser
diode driving the resonator and the result in
momentum tensor,
gravitational radiation from the radiator.

Theory cP K = δ 0 x K ' ∫∫∫ T 00 ( x ', xG0 )d 3 x '

In order to establish an analytical background
consider the following. Let ηµ ν be a Lorentz
and the quadruple moment tensor,

1
 f ~ sin 4 θ

I iK = x i x K ' ∫∫∫ T00 ( x ', xG0 )d 3 x '

The derivative forms for the potential fields are 0
o
Z Y

substituted into the expression for the Poynting 50 o

vector, thus giving the expression for the

o
270 o
x 90

radiated energy per unit time, or power, within a 0.5

1.0
130
o

solid angle dΩ, as follows. o

180

Figure 2: Resonant Vibrator/Gravitational

1 K 2 Wave Radiation
Pol = U ol dσ l = ( ) f (θ , φ , xGo )d Ω
8 4π The pattern resembles a torus or "donut" mode.

Here the factor It can be seen that the maximum radiation occurs
f (θ , φ , x )
o
G
in the plane perpendicular to the vibrating z axis
(Figure 2).
represents the directivity of the gravitational
wave radiator. Consider a linear array of resonant vibrators
(Figure 3).
Of particular interest for this paper is the
resonance vibrator, conceptually similar to what resonant vibrator cell z
Weber2,3,4 used as a gravitational wave detector.
The resonance vibrator is a cylinder (Figure 1),
which is placed under stress and strain. a y
a
z a x
b

l
Figure 3: Resonant Vibrator Linear Array

Let high peak power laser radiation from laser

Figure 1: Resonant Vibrator Cylinder diodes be injected along the z axis to induce
acoustic stress in the material (Figure 4).
At this point assume the following dynamic laser
variables: resonant diodes
vibrator cell fiber
ω
Displacement ε = A1 sin( ) cos wt optic
Vs

dξ ω z
Particle velocity v = = −V p sin( ) z sin ω t
dt Vs x

dξ V p ω
Strain ε == = cos( ) z cos wt
dz Vs Vs
1
Bs
V p = A1ω V2 = ( )2
ρ Figure 4: Laser Diodes and Linear Array
Bs → Young's Modulus
The directivity can now be expressed as follows The stresses will generate a weak gravitational
(Figure 2). wave along the x axis. The gravitational wave
generated from a number of "cells" along the x

2
axis can be added in phase. The resultant Vs 5
gravitational "beam" along the x axis is PRV = (5.7 x 10−2 )G ρ o2π 2 a 4 em2 Vs ( )
extremely intensified compared to a single C
resonant vibrator "cell." The linear arrangement Where
will be referred to as a traveling wave Nt ⋅ m 2
G = 6.67 x 10−11
(TW)gravitational wave (GW) radiator, or kg
TWGW radiator.
(Gravitational Constant)
The directivity of the TWGW radiator can be ε M = 4 x 10−3 (Strain)
expressed as (Figure 5)
Then
πω PRV = 2.14 x 10−29 watt
sin( (1 − cos Θ))
Vs As anticipated, this is a very small number.
f ≈( ) 2 cos 4 Θ However, for the TWGW radiator, the radiated
πω
( )(1 − cos Θ) power can be estimated by the following
Vs expression.
Vs 5 bω 6
PTW = (7 x 10−5 )G ρ o2 a 2 l 2 em2 Vs ( ) ( ) Ω
C Vs
TWGW Radiator Where
Z 5.3° Ω(±5.3o ) = 2.7 x 10−2 sr
(Solid angle of the radiation)
0° Then
0 0.5 1.0 -5.3°
. x 103 watt
PTW = 166
Radiation lobe

Figure 5: TWGW Radiator Symmetric
Radiation Pattern
The graphical result of Figure 5 is based on the
geometry of Figure 3 and the constants as
follows.
Material: Quartz
b = 3 x 10 −5 m
a = 3 x 10 −3 m
l = 0.3m
ω = 6.28 x 1012 radian / sec
(resonant frequency )
3 structure is expressed as
VS = 5 x 10 m / sec ( wave speed )
ρ o = 2650 kg / m3 (density )
As can be seen in Figure 5, the TWGW radiation
is very directional. This brings to question what
type of power levels could be estimated. To
begin, consider the single resonant vibrator cell
(Figures 2 and 3). The radiated power can be
estimated by the following expression.
This shows how important the phase
relationships between individual resonant
vibrators are!
At this point it is important to realize that the
radiated gravitational wave carries energy and
momentum with it. This is expressed as
ε Pt
P= =
C C
Where P is the radiated power, t is time, ε is the
energy of the gravitational wave, and P is the
momentum.
The resulting reaction force on the TWGW
P P
F= =
t C
Referring to Figure 5, it can be seen that the
radiation pattern is symmetric about the center of
the TWGW structure. Therefore any reaction
force is balanced! However, consider a variation
in the phasing of the laser diodes (Figure 4),
where the lobes become asymmetric (Figure 6).

3
 TWGW Radiator needed to give rise to TWGW radiation.
z It will be imperative to address
questions on how material uniformity,
x temperature, geometry, laser pulse
width, repetition rate, and wavelength
will impact performance.
Radiation
Lobe 2) Investigate phasing techniques of the
TWGW elements in order to create
Figure 6: TWGW Radiator Asymmetric various asymmetries in the radiating
Radiation Pattern pattern. The directivity and intensity of
the TWGW radiator is key to the
This can be accomplished by pulse timing, success of generating a net propulsive
variation in pulse rate, laser diode intensity, force. How energy and momentum
alternate materials, and geometry. Here there is transports are affected by individual
a net force in the direction of the least intense radiator phasing are of utmost
gravitational wave (Figure 7). importance. The question of whether
harmonics distribute energy into other
TWGW Radiator Radiation “modes” or are negligible must be
Lobe considered.
z
The TWGW system must be analytically
x modeled as part of the above investigations. The
Net Reaction results will lead to study of a test article that will
Force Radiation Lobe be used to demonstrate the use of the
gravitational wave Poynting vector imbalance as
a means of generating a propulsive force through
Figure 7: Reaction Force the center of mass of the TWGW system.
for Asymmetric Radiator TWGW Conceptually a scale version of the system could
provide propellantless propulsion into the outer
The reaction force is expressed as regions of the solar system and/or orbital transfer
Fnet = FRL1 − FRL 2 missions.
P RL1 − P RL 2
= Space Flight Application
C An interesting example is a comparison of the
As an example, let P RL1 = 500 watt and P RL2 = TWGW system to that of a solar sail at the earth
3.5 x 103 watt, then orbital plane. Let the TWGW system be 1000
meters in length. The resulting net propulsive
Fnet = 10 x 10 −6 Nt force would be about 61 Nt. For a square solar
sail with a perfect reflectivity experiencing a
The net force, although small, raises the
solar flux of 1.3x103 watts/m2, the required area
possibility of a propellantless propulsion
would be around 1.4 x 107 m2 for a force of 61
concept, utilizing current technologies.
Nt. This is a perimeter length of approximately
3.7 x 103m and must be normal to the solar disk
Further Investigations
to experience the maximum momentum transfer.
Also, as the sail increases its distance from the
Mathematical analysis indicates that
solar disk, the intercepted flux decreases with the
gravitational wave propulsion is possible.
square of the distance. The TWGW system is
Further investigation will entail the following
not dependent on the solar disk for operation.
objectives.
Conclusion
1) Investigate the efficiency of converting
laser light into acoustic stress within
An analytical model has been created to
TWGW generating material candidates.
investigate the nature of the radiated TWGW
The acoustic stresses are responsible for
pattern with respect to phase relationships
generating the quadrapole moment
between individual “cell” radiators. Future

4
models will investigate the magnitude of side
lobes or harmonics to determine whether
asymmetries cause less than desirable effects.
These results will be used for evaluation of the
generation of a net propulsive force.

References

1 Einstein, A., Naherungsweise Integration der

Feldgleichunger der Gravitation (Berlin
Sitzungsberichte, 1916), pp. 688-696.

4 Weber, J., Physics Review Letters, 22, 1969, p.

1320.

2 Weber, J., Physics Review, 117, 1960, p. 306.

3 Weber, J. General Relativity and

Gravitational Waves (Interscience, New York,
1961).

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to express sincere thanks to

Remigius Shatas and Robert Asprey of 2C
Computing, Huntsville, Alabama for their
encouragement and support.