P3_2 Terminal velocities due to relativistic Doppler effects

Authors

  • R. H. Peck
  • H. W. Buttery
  • C. D.Y. Moore
  • C. J. Middleton

Abstract

We find the speed of a spacecraft at which the radiation pressure ahead of the craft from blue-shifted starlight will be enough to balance the propulsive force of its engines. We found that the drag force obeys P=(4*pi/3)*(((V/c)+1)^2*I_0/(c*(1-(V/c)))), calculated the terminal velocity of the Project Daedalus 2nd stage to be (100-4.6x10^-19)%c, and found that at the craft's planned cruise speed, 0.12c, only 1.1x10^-15N of drag results from this effect.

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Published

04-11-2016

How to Cite

Peck, R. H., Buttery, H. W., Moore, C. D., & Middleton, C. J. (2016). P3_2 Terminal velocities due to relativistic Doppler effects. Physics Special Topics, 15(1). Retrieved from https://journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/pst/article/view/866

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2016): Physics Special Topics

Section

Articles