Is the technology of ZPM energy generator in stargate atlantis series theoretically possible?

Question

Z.P.M (Zero Point Module) in the Stargate Atlantis series has come up with a really revolutionary idea of dealing with the massive power requirements for the inter galactic travels and space warping for superluminal speeds. The explanation is that the Z.P.M can extract the residual energy in a system and convert it onto energy, based on the idea of zero point energy as described by Einstein. For example the energy that is causing continuous spacial and dimensional distortions, and continuous creation and destruction of wormholes etc in the ultra small scale quantum world.

Is this a real logical explanation or just a fabrication like the idea of force shields in science fictions?

Answer 1

Unfortunately,  it is a science-fiction device to explain how the proponents obtain the energy required.  By definition of ZPE,  it is clear that it cannot be extracted or utilized.  Zero Point Energy is the lowest energy that a system can contain.  If energy is extracted from a system, ZPE must always remain.

Answer 2

I am getting a physics degree to study just this subject. Hopefully I will be able to come up with something within my life time.

Answer 3

To begin with, ZPE (zero point energy, also known as vacuum energy) IS in fact a real kind of energy, and there really is quite a lot of it: Consider that while the amount of water that would fit in a cup, if turned into pure energy, would be enough to blow up any city in the world, the amount of space in that same cup contains enough zero point energy to blow off the top 100 meters of the ENTIRE EARTH'S SURFACE. However, the scale of this energy is so small that it doesn't normally interact with relatively large objects like photons and nucleons; it's kind of a 'fish know nothing of water' situation. It can only be detected using special setups, for example it results in the Casimir Force between very close plates of metal, and also prevents helium from freezing into a solid. If we could somehow build a device to convert this power into a useful form, more than a very tiny degree of efficiency would be enough to build extremely effective power plants that literally never use up their 'fuel'. However, no one has proposed any realistic device that would actually be able to extract any more vacuum energy than the amount of energy required to run the device in the first place. Until someone comes up with a workable design, ZPE power plants remain in the realm science fiction.

In addition, there is no physical principle that suggests ZPE power would allow us to move faster than light. It WOULD make a very effective power source for a spaceship drive, but accelerating a particle with rest mass to the speed of light still requires an infinite amount of energy, which ZPE can't provide. In order to go faster than light, you would have to invoke other strange physical principles, for example if you could somehow distort the space ahead of and behind the ship, effective superluminal travel might be possible (this proposal is known as the alcubierre drive). But again, no one has actually figured out how this could be done, regardless of how much energy they have to put into it.

Answer 4

I really dont think so. But Glad you watch SGA I love the show. I suggest you post this question on the scifi fourms :) We love to dicuss this kind of topic over at the sga board. :) I'm BambiScott there Hope to see you there.

Answer 5

There is an actual very true idea in this technology. It's not just science fiction, there is some truth in it...greatly so.

Everybody says, that ZPE is the lowest energy state and that nothing can be extracted from it. If  energy is extraced from a system, ZPE must remain?....that sort of stuff. No proof of these claims or not investigated too the extremes.

The ZPE field is everywhere in this universe...of course there is going to be ZPE remaining! You can't deplete the ZPE field. Also, it is not the lowest energy state either. It is high in frequency. It's raw power is locked away in frequency cycles. You want proof? There is proof. But you will have to look for it. Some have made breakthroughs on this world and they have achieved overunity due to the interaction to this field. That means there is raw energy to be used for free.

There is much more of course, if you study what scientists of today who have found about the ZPE field...at least those who take it serious, you may be interested to know that it is a useful energy source. The trick is in tapping it.

The ZPM is not far from the truth. It is made up crystals.

"ZPMs extract vacuum energy from a small artificially-created region of subspace time, and are used to power the technology of the Ancients."

Artificially, what they are saying, is that they can create a wormhole to the vacuum energy. Not far from the truth.

"A ZPM is capable of generating immense amounts of energy by utilizing zero point energy, which derives from a phenomenon known as the quantum foam, also known as vacuum energy. Zero point energy is the energy that remains in a system when all other types of energy have been removed. A ZPM contains an artificially created region of subspace, from which this power is drawn. Since this process is thermodynamically irreversible, every ZPM will eventually become depleted and no longer able to provide power. "

Thermodynamically irreversible. Well, since the ZPE is a known source, then the laws of thermodynamics are not true here. A true ZPM would work forever without maintenance. It would not deplete it's self and any energy coming from the ZPE would maintain the operation. THe 'spark' point is the external energy needed to start the process. This would be a requirement on our end. Once the doorway is created to 'subspace', then the ZPM would be on forever.

Also, force shields are not science fiction. They are a reality. We just don't have the know how to make them yet (collectively), but they are real.