Traveling to the past is possible with laser rings, scientist theorizes
Traveling to the past seems like a science fiction theme, worthy of books by HG Wells or movies like Back to the Future. But for one U.S. scientist, it will at some point be a reality.
Ronald Mallett, professor of physics at the University of Connecticut, is the driving force behind the laser ring theory. According to the experienced physicist, a rotating laser loop can bend time continuously.
Mallett believes that it can generate a gravitational field that leads to the creation of time loops, making it possible to travel into the past.
“Light can create gravity, and if gravity can affect time, then light itself can affect time,” he indicated in an interview with The Guardian.
Unlike a normal black hole, a spinning one has two event horizons, an inner and an outer one. Between those two horizons occurs something called frame dragging, which is space-time dragging.
The professor draws a comparison.
Ronald Mallett's basis for being able to travel into the past with laser rings.
“Let's say you have a cup of coffee in front of you right now. You start stirring the coffee with the spoon. It started swirling around, right? That's what a spinning black hole does.”
“In Einstein's theory,” Mallett continues, “space and time are related to each other. That's why it's called space-time. So as the black hole spins, it will actually cause a twisting of time.”
The scientist acknowledges that the effort would not be economical, and that no government would invest in it. But he has faith that, in the future, someone will.
“What is needed first is to demonstrate that we can twist space, not time, twist space with light,” Mallett points out. And he compares his idea to that of the Wright brothers, the first to fly. Few thought that, at some point, mankind would be able to go to the moon. And it was achieved.
Why not travel back in time?
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