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	~~'''~~Faster-than-light''' (FTL) travel refers to the hypothetical propagation of information or matter at a speed exceeding that of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second or about 186,282 miles per second. The concept of FTL travel is a common subject in science fiction and has been a speculative area in the fields of [[physics]] and [[astronomy]]. Despite its prevalence in popular culture, FTL travel contradicts the known laws of physics, particularly those outlined by [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]].		== Faster-than-light ==

	~~==Overview==~~		[[File:Tachyon04s.gif\|thumb\|right\|Illustration of a hypothetical tachyon traveling faster than light.]]
	~~The idea~~ of traveling ~~or sending information~~ faster than light has fascinated humanity for centuries. In modern physics, the speed of light in a vacuum is considered a fundamental constant of nature and serves as the ultimate speed limit for the transmission of information and the movement of objects. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, as an object with mass accelerates towards the speed of light, its mass effectively becomes infinite, and it would require infinite energy to reach or exceed the speed of light, making FTL travel physically impossible for objects with mass.

	~~==Theoretical Frameworks==~~		The concept of '''faster-than-light''' (FTL) travel refers to the theoretical possibility of traveling at speeds exceeding the [[speed of light]] in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. According to [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]], the speed of light is the ultimate speed limit in the universe, and nothing with mass can reach or exceed this speed.
	~~Despite these limitations, several theoretical frameworks have been proposed that might allow for~~ FTL travel ~~or communication~~, ~~circumventing~~ the light-speed ~~barrier without violating~~ the ~~known laws of physics~~. ~~These include:~~

	* [[Wormholes]]: Hypothetical tunnels through spacetime that could connect distant points in the universe. Wormholes, if they exist and could be stabilized and traversed, might allow for instantaneous travel between two points, effectively achieving FTL travel.		=== Theoretical Background ===
	* [[Alcubierre Drive]]: A theoretical concept proposed by physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, which involves a spacecraft creating a bubble of spacetime that contracts space in front of it and expands space behind it, allowing the spacecraft to move faster than light relative to the space outside the bubble.
	* [[Quantum Entanglement]]: A phenomenon in quantum mechanics where pairs or groups of particles can become entangled in such a way that the state of one (instantaneously) affects the state of another, no matter the distance between them. Some interpretations suggest this could allow for FTL communication, though this remains highly speculative and controversial.

	~~==Challenges and Implications==~~		In the framework of [[special relativity]], as an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its [[relativistic mass]] increases, requiring an infinite amount of energy to reach the speed of light. This makes FTL travel impossible for objects with mass. However, certain theoretical constructs, such as [[tachyons]], have been proposed as particles that could travel faster than light.
	~~The realization~~ of ~~FTL travel or communication would have profound implications for causality~~, ~~potentially allowing for paradoxes where~~ an ~~effect precedes~~ its ~~cause. This has led~~ to ~~much debate within~~ the ~~scientific community about the possibility and desirability~~ of FTL ~~technologies~~.

	Moreover, practical challenges, including the enormous energy requirements and the need for exotic materials with negative energy densities (for wormholes and the Alcubierre Drive), make the current scientific consensus skeptical about the feasibility of FTL travel or communication.		=== Tachyons ===

	~~==In Popular Culture==~~		[[File:Tachyon04s.gif\|thumb\|left\|A depiction of tachyons, hypothetical particles that travel faster than light.]]
	~~FTL travel is a staple~~ of ~~science fiction~~, ~~allowing for narratives~~ that ~~span vast distances of space within human lifetimes. It serves as a plot device that enables interstellar~~ travel~~, exploration, and interaction among different planetary systems and civilizations~~.

	==~~See Also~~==		'''Tachyons''' are hypothetical particles that always move faster than light. The concept of tachyons was first introduced by physicist [[Gerald Feinberg]] in 1967. Tachyons would have imaginary [[rest mass]] and would violate the principle of causality, leading to paradoxes such as the [[grandfather paradox]]. Despite their intriguing properties, tachyons have not been observed experimentally, and their existence remains purely speculative.

			=== Wormholes and Warp Drives ===

			Another theoretical possibility for FTL travel involves the use of [[wormholes]] or [[warp drives]]. A wormhole is a hypothetical tunnel-like structure that connects two separate points in [[spacetime]], potentially allowing for instantaneous travel between them. The concept of a warp drive, popularized by [[science fiction]] such as "[[Star Trek]]", involves bending or "warping" spacetime around a spacecraft to allow it to travel faster than light relative to an outside observer.

			=== Implications and Challenges ===

			The possibility of FTL travel raises numerous scientific and philosophical questions. If FTL travel were possible, it could lead to violations of causality, where effects precede their causes. This would challenge our understanding of time and the fundamental laws of physics. Additionally, the energy requirements and technological challenges associated with FTL travel are currently beyond our capabilities.

			== Related pages ==
	* [[Special relativity]]		* [[Special relativity]]
	* [[General relativity]]		* [[General relativity]]
	* [[~~Time travel~~]]		* [[Tachyon]]
	* [[~~Space exploration~~]]		* [[Wormhole]]
			* [[Warp drive]]
			* [[Speed of light]]

	~~==References==~~
	~~<references/>~~

	~~[[Category:Astronomy]]~~
	[[Category:Physics]]		[[Category:Physics]]
	[[Category:~~Science fiction themes~~]]		[[Category:Relativity]]
			[[Category:Hypothetical particles]]
	~~{{physics-stub}}~~

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'''Faster-than-light''' (FTL) travel refers to the hypothetical propagation of information or matter at a speed exceeding that of light in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second or about 186,282 miles per second. The concept of FTL travel is a common subject in science fiction and has been a speculative area in the fields of [[physics]] and [[astronomy]]. Despite its prevalence in popular culture, FTL travel contradicts the known laws of physics, particularly those outlined by [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]].

==Overview==
The idea of traveling or sending information faster than light has fascinated humanity for centuries. In modern physics, the speed of light in a vacuum is considered a fundamental constant of nature and serves as the ultimate speed limit for the transmission of information and the movement of objects. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, as an object with mass accelerates towards the speed of light, its mass effectively becomes infinite, and it would require infinite energy to reach or exceed the speed of light, making FTL travel physically impossible for objects with mass.

==Theoretical Frameworks==
Despite these limitations, several theoretical frameworks have been proposed that might allow for FTL travel or communication, circumventing the light-speed barrier without violating the known laws of physics. These include:

* [[Wormholes]]: Hypothetical tunnels through spacetime that could connect distant points in the universe. Wormholes, if they exist and could be stabilized and traversed, might allow for instantaneous travel between two points, effectively achieving FTL travel.
* [[Alcubierre Drive]]: A theoretical concept proposed by physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, which involves a spacecraft creating a bubble of spacetime that contracts space in front of it and expands space behind it, allowing the spacecraft to move faster than light relative to the space outside the bubble.
* [[Quantum Entanglement]]: A phenomenon in quantum mechanics where pairs or groups of particles can become entangled in such a way that the state of one (instantaneously) affects the state of another, no matter the distance between them. Some interpretations suggest this could allow for FTL communication, though this remains highly speculative and controversial.

==Challenges and Implications==
The realization of FTL travel or communication would have profound implications for causality, potentially allowing for paradoxes where an effect precedes its cause. This has led to much debate within the scientific community about the possibility and desirability of FTL technologies.

Moreover, practical challenges, including the enormous energy requirements and the need for exotic materials with negative energy densities (for wormholes and the Alcubierre Drive), make the current scientific consensus skeptical about the feasibility of FTL travel or communication.

==In Popular Culture==
FTL travel is a staple of science fiction, allowing for narratives that span vast distances of space within human lifetimes. It serves as a plot device that enables interstellar travel, exploration, and interaction among different planetary systems and civilizations.

==See Also==
* [[Special relativity]]
* [[General relativity]]
* [[Time travel]]
* [[Space exploration]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Science fiction themes]]

{{physics-stub}}

Faster-than-light - Revision history

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