STEAM Summer School 2022 

Mission: Mars

Tokyo, Japan

August 2022

Highlights from the joint NASA working group

Highlights from the joint NASA working group

May 29, 2022 — Kevin Knuth and Christopher Altman featured in a forward-looking article on NASA's plans to work with a Congressionally-mandated interagency UAP Task Force on the investigation of UAP. Kevin H. Knuth, Associate Professor of Physics, University at Albany (SUNY), and former NASA research scientist stated:

“It's about time that scientists start taking this subject seriously, especially since there is a potential for paradigm-shifting implications. I would be very interested in knowing whether NASA astronauts have had any encounters with UAPs like US Navy pilots.”

Starlab veteran Christopher Altman, a NASA-trained Commercial Astronaut and Research Affiliate at the Harvard University Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, commented on the NASA working group, stating:

“The development signals a refreshing sea change, a quantum leap forward—completely unprecedented in NASA's 65-year history addressing the phenomenon. We're entering into a new era of openness, transparency, and accountability that holds the potential to shed light on one of mankind's greatest enduring mysteries.”

Source : Liberation Times

Quantum Experiments in Space and Microgravity 

Gravitational Decoherence — The unique environment of space allows us to probe fundamental physics questions at the intersection of entanglement, gravity, and relativity. One example is to test how gravity affects quantum coherence by placing entangled particle pairs at different gravitational potentials in Earth orbit. The setup measures how rapidly quantum states decohere as a function of gravitational gradient. Implementation calls for a satellite constellation with precision-stabilized quantum sources, high-fidelity entanglement distribution across varying orbital altitudes, and ultra-sensitive interferometric detection systems. 

Relativistic Quantum Reference Frame Transformation — Exploit the relativistic effects experienced in different orbital reference frames to test the transformation properties of quantum states. By creating entangled particles that experience different proper times due to relativistic effects, we could probe fundamental questions about how quantum information transforms between reference frames. The experimental design would include highly eccentric orbital paths creating significant velocity differentials, synchronized atomic clocks with sub-femtosecond precision, and quantum state tomography capabilities for complete state reconstruction.

Spacetime Curvature Effects on Quantum Teleportation — How does spacetime curvature influences quantum teleportation protocols? By performing quantum teleportation between satellites in different gravitational potentials, we can observe how successfully quantum information traverses curved spacetime regions. Multiple satellites with quantum memories and processing capabilities can be combined with adaptive optics systems to maintain quantum channel fidelity and precision measurement of teleportation fidelities as a function of spacetime curvature. 

Casimir Effect Propulsion — Investigate the potential for the Casimir effect to be harnessed for propulsion. In the microgravity environment of space, even minute forces can produce measurable accelerations over time. The setup incorporates nanofabricated cavity structures with precisely controlled geometries, ultra-sensitive force measurement apparatus and long-duration experimental runs to accumulate detectable momentum change.  

Quantum Gravitational Waves — Entangled particles can act as sensors for gravitational waves. The phase relationship between entangled particles could be exquisitely sensitive to spacetime distortions, potentially offering higher sensitivity than current interferometric detectors. Implementation involves large-scale distribution of entangled particle pairs, quantum metrology techniques to extract signal from noise to correlate with existing gravitational wave detection networks. 

Relativistic Quantum Clock Synchronization — Quantum protocols for clock synchronization can be tested across relativistic reference frames. It could determine whether quantum entanglement provides advantages for establishing a universal time reference across large distances in space. Optical lattice atomic clocks with stability at the 10^-18 level combined with quantum entanglement distribution capabilities allows for precise modeling of relativistic effects on measurement outcomes. 

Gravitationally Modulated Entanglement — Entangled photon pairs can be exchanged between satellites in differing gravitational potentials (or between a satellite and a ground station) to study how gravitational time dilation or spacetime curvature affects entanglement correlations to verify whether relativistic effects introduce measurable decoherence or phase shifts, testing predictions from quantum field theory in curved spacetime.

Quantum Interferometry with Massive Particles — Deploy a space-borne matter-wave interferometer using cold atoms or nanoparticles to place massive particles in superposition over large distances to investigate the interplay between quantum superposition and gravitational fields, and probe decoherence mechanisms predicted by models of quantum gravity.  

Entangled Clock Networks — Develop an array of entangled atomic clocks distributed across space (on satellites or space stations) to measure gravitational redshift and time dilation effects with quantum-enhanced precision to test general relativity at quantum scales and explore whether entanglement can reduce uncertainties in gravitational measurements.

Space-Based Quantum Communication under Relativistic Conditions — Extend quantum key distribution (QKD) experiments to include relativistic corrections by having communication links between rapidly moving platforms or deep-space probes to examine if and how relativistic motion or varying gravitational potentials affect the fidelity and security of quantum communication protocols, with implications for both fundamental physics and secure space communications.

Holographic Noise and Quantum Gravity Probes — Harness highly sensitive quantum sensors (e.g., interferometers with entangled light) in a quiet, microgravity environment to search for signatures of holographic noise or other emergent phenomena predicted by some quantum gravity theories to provide experimental bounds or potential evidence for models where spacetime emerges from underlying quantum entanglement networks.

Quantum Vacuum Propulsion Experiments — Although secondary to the quantum entanglement focus, consider experiments that investigate dynamic Casimir effects or other quantum vacuum phenomena under space conditions to determine if energy extraction from vacuum fluctuations can be harnessed in microgravity to inform future breakthrough propulsion systems, linking quantum field effects with practical spacecraft propulsion.

Breakthrough Propulsion Research — Space‐based experiments further offer an ideal platform to revisit and extend Martin Tajmar’s findings at TU Dresden in studies of anomalous gravitometric time‐dilation. In a microgravity environment, one can minimize seismic, vibrational, and terrestrial gravitational noise and better isolate any subtle quantum‐gravity coupling effect with a cryogenic, high‐speed rotating superconducting assembly coupled with ultra‐stable clocks and quantum gravimeters. Tajmar's research suggests that rapidly rotating superconductors may produce anomalous gravitomagnetic fields and possible frame-dragging effects that exceed predictions from general relativity by several orders of magnitude. His work with niobium rings, YBCO discs, and other superconducting materials indicated potential gravitometric effects when these materials transition through their critical temperature while rotating at high speeds. 

Microgravity Superconductor Frame-Dragging — Leverage the microgravity environment to eliminate terrestrial vibration and gravitational interference that complicates Tajmar's lab-based experiments via precision-mounted superconducting rings rotated at varying speeds in orbit, fiber-optic gyroscopes and atom interferometers positioned at strategic distance, controlled thermal cycling through superconducting transition temperatures, and multi-axis accelerometers to detect minute gravitational anomalies. The space environment allows extended experimental runs to be conducted without the need to compensate for Earth's gravitational gradient, potentially revealing subtle effects masked in terrestrial settings.

Cooper Pair Mass Anomaly — Test Tajmar's hypothesis that Cooper pairs in rotating superconductors may exhibit anomalous inertial properties. The setup would incorporate multiple superconducting samples with different Cooper pair densities, rapid spin-up and spin-down capabilities in vacuum condition, quantum Hall effect sensors to detect minute magnetic field variations, and laser interferometry systems to measure space-time distortions at picometer scales. Conducting this experiment in Earth orbit would eliminate concerns about ground loops and electromagnetic interference that plague terrestrial versions.

Superconductor-Enhanced Gravitational Wave Detection — Building on both Tajmar's work and gravitational wave physics, we aim to investigate whether rotating superconductors could amplify gravitational wave signals through their proposed gravitomagnetic amplification properties by leveraging large superconducting discs maintained at transition temperatures, variable rotation rates to establish resonance conditions, quantum-limited displacement sensors arranged in orthogonal configuration, and correlation capabilities with Earth-based gravitational wave detectors. This approach may enable detection of higher-frequency gravitational waves beyond the range of current observatories.

Mach’s Principle Using Rotating Superconductors — This experiment would test Tajmar's suggestion that observed effects might be connected to Mach's principle regarding the origin of inertia. The space-based implementation would incorporate isolated superconducting rotors with precise attitude control, multiple rotation axes to test for anisotropic effects relative to distant stars, long-duration measurements to account for orbital position relative to galactic center, and variable temperature control to measure effect strength as a function of superconductive state. This could provide fundamental insights into the relationship between quantum properties and large-scale cosmic structure.

Rotating Superconductor as a Gravimeter Clock — A superconducting disk or ring in a cryogenic, low‐vibration module can be spun at high angular velocities then surrounded the superconductor with an array of high‐precision atomic (or optical lattice) clocks and sensitive quantum gravimeters (or atom interferometers). By comparing clock rates and local gravitational accelerations at different positions relative to the rotating body, one could detect any anomalous time dilation or gravitomagnetic fields that deviate from classical predictions. 

Quantum Gravity and Differential Time Dilation — Two identical ultra‐stable clocks are mounted: one very close to a rapidly rotating superconductor and the other placed at a controlled distance. Over time, any extra gravitometric time dilation predicted by Tajmar’s work beyond standard relativistic effects would appear as a measurable offset between the clocks. The microgravity conditions eliminate many confounding influences present on Earth, and long integration times in orbit would allow sub–nanosecond shifts to be resolved.

Interferometric Probe of Local Spacetime Distortions — Integrating a rotating superconducting apparatus with a laser interferometer designed to detect minute distortions in the local spacetime metric, any anomalous gravitomagnetic field generated by the rotating superconductor should alter the phase of the laser beams traversing paths that encircle the device. Such experiment can quantify both the strength and spatial variation of the anomalous field.

The principal advantage of conducting experiments in space is the elimination of Earth's gravitational interference and seismic noise. A staged approach will begin with suborbital flights to test equipment functionality, followed by deployment on the ISS or dedicated free-flying platforms for more controlled experimental conditions.The pristine environment of microgravity and thermal stability available in space allows for high quality tests of anomalous gravitometric time‐dilation such as that reported in Tajmar’s terrestrial experiments. Such experiments could provide critical insight into whether superconducting quantum materials interact with gravity in a fundamentally new way. 

The reduced interference and ability to sustain extended observation times in orbit make space the ideal laboratory to confirm or refute these provocative results. Each of these proposals integrates aspects of quantum mechanics with gravitational and relativistic effects—capitalizing on the advantages of the space environment to test theories at regimes unattainable on Earth. They also pave the way toward technologies that might eventually contribute to advanced spacecraft propulsion or quantum-enhanced sensors for deep-space exploration.

Artificial Quantum Life on the IBM Q Cloud Quantum Computer

Physicists in the QUTIS Quantum Biomimetics and Quantum Artificial Life research group at the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country in Spain have harnessed the unprecedented power of the IBM Q Cloud Quantum Computer—recently made available for public use (IBM makes 20 qubit quantum computing machine available as a cloud service)—to reproduce the hallmark features of Darwinian life and evolution in microscopic quantum systems, proving they can efficiently encode quantum features and biological behaviors that are usually associated with living systems and natural selection.

The fundamental features of evolution captured in the system include interaction between individuals, self-replication, generational adaptation, and heritable mutations conveyed through the transfer of entangled quantum information. The self-replication mechanism employed by the researchers is based on two partial quantum cloning events—an operation that entangles either the genotype or the phenotype with a blank state, and copies a certain expectation value of the original qubit in both of the outcome qubits.

The final ingredient is the interaction between individuals, which conditionally exchange the phenotypes depending on the genotypes. This behavior is achieved via a four-qubit unitary operation, where genotypes and phenotypes play the role of control and target qubits, respectively. The conjunction of these components leads to a minimal but consistent Darwinian quantum scenario.

From the report:

Quantum Artificial Life in an IBM Quantum Computer

We present the first experimental realization of a quantum artificial life algorithm in a quantum computer. The quantum biomimetic protocol encodes tailored quantum behaviors belonging to living systems, namely, self-replication, mutation, interaction between individuals, and death, into the IBM cloud quantum computer. 

In this experiment, entanglement spreads throughout generations of individuals, where genuine quantum information features are inherited through genealogical networks. As a pioneering proof-of-principle, experimental data fits the ideal theoretical model with accuracy.

Thereafter, these and other models of quantum artificial life—for which no classical device may predict its quantum supremacy evolution—can be further explored in novel generations of quantum computers. Quantum biomimetics, quantum machine learning, and quantum artificial intelligence will move forward hand-in-hand through more elaborate levels of quantum complexity.

The researchers foresee a rich field of investigation arising from the confluence of quantum and natural life:

The creation of these quantum living units and their possible applications are expected to have deep implications in the community of quantum simulation and quantum computing in a variety of quantum platforms. All in all, the experiments presented here entail the validation of quantum artificial life in the lab and, in particular, in cloud quantum computers, as that of IBM. 

Still another interesting step would be the development of autonomous quantum devices following the theoretical and experimental results in quantum cellular automata. Our quantum individuals are driven by an adaptation effort along the lines of a quantum Darwinian evolution, which effectively transfer quantum information through generations of larger multiqubit entangled states. We believe that the presented results and vision, both in theory and experiments, should hoist this innovative research line as one of the leading banners in the future of quantum technologies.

The same research group published the report Artificial Life in Quantum Technologies last year:

We develop a quantum information protocol that models the biological behaviors of individuals living in a natural selection scenario. The artificially engineered evolution of the quantum living units shows the fundamental features of life in a common environment, such as self-replication, mutation, interaction of individuals, and death. We propose how to mimic these bio-inspired features in a quantum-mechanical formalism, which allows for an experimental implementation achievable with current quantum platforms. This result paves the way for the realization of artificial life and embodied evolution with quantum technologies.

Links

• QUTIS Group, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, Spain
• Quantum Biomimetics and Quantum Artificial Life – QUTIS
• arXiv [1711.09442] Quantum Artificial Life in an IBM Quantum Computer
• The future is quantum – IBM Research
• Quantum Computing
• The IBM Q experience
• IBM’s Newest Quantum Computers Are the Most Powerful of Their Kind
• IBM announces a trailblazing quantum machine

SolarCoin renewable energy currency was recently featured in Forbes:

Forbes | Inside a 5,000 Gigawatt Quest To Save The Planet

“Our mission in founding SolarCoin—to accelerate our societal transition from petroleum-dependent, war-scourged, scarcity economics to a renewable-energy based, peaceful, post-scarcity economy—is now shared with Elon Musk.   

SolarCoin is a global reward for renewable solar energy. Instead of being digitally mined, proof of work happens in the physical world. SolarCoin is earned for generating solar electricity: 1 § (SLR) per MWh, or 97,500 terawatt-hours of generation over the next forty years. 

Active in 32 countries, the initiative launched in a worldwide press conference at MIT Media Lab in February 2016. We're working in close partnership with scientists and researchers at NASA, MIT, Xerox PARC, Google, the US national laboratories and other leading labs, expanding rapidly worldwide, to low-Earth orbit―and beyond. 

As the “SETI of solar,” with more than seven million real-time solar monitoring stations around the globe, set to grow to more than 200M over the next decade, SolarCoin is the world’s lowest carbon currency—the largest environmental monitoring experiment—and the largest private renewable energy project in the world.

SolarCoin launched in a worldwide press conference at MIT in February 2016, since working in partnership with scientists and researchers from NASA, MIT, Xerox PARC, Google, the US national laboratories and other leading labs, expanding rapidly worldwide, to low-Earth orbit―and beyond.” 

      – Christopher Altman, Cofounder and Chief Scientist

State of the Future –  Live Two-Hour Radio Interview

Listen now (MP3) 

“We’re off to a fine start with our guests for our two-hour live radio interview this week: NASA-trained quantum astronaut Christopher Altman (vitae) and his muse, Kate Kie Russell—a serendipity spark, technology catalyst, long-term strategic planning, conference and events coordinator, professional model, DJ, host and emcee. Kate is fluent in Japanese, and a talented icebreaker into the vast, unexplored terrain of “Deep Future” thinking.”

“On this show we explore such erudite topics as breakthroughs in quantum entanglement and teleportation, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, artificial intelligence and Elon Musk's Open AI initiative, magnetic thorium nuclear plasma drives, warp drives and wormholes for deep space exploration, the Tau Zero Foundation and pioneering interstellar flight, multidisciplinary research institute Starlab | Deep Future, time travel and retrocausality, Pentagon field operations for the next generation of government leadership in the post-scarcity economy, outer space and inner space—and a myriad of other future trends. Christopher is working in each of these areas to transition them from deep future to present-day. – Enjoy!”

Listen now (MP3)
Live Two-Hour Radio Interview

As  we expand our reach outwards to other worlds—and other stars—Earth comes into view as a destination, no longer limited as a point of origin. 

Inspirational highlights from my closing speech and subsequent interview with the press on our collective responsibility to the future—as our technologies converge and we take our next steps outward to the stars—delivered to the full assembly of distinguished international delegates at the recent Global Leadership Forum, taken up and published by nationally-acclaimed Souls of San Francisco, reaching out to inspire hundreds of thousands around the world.

" We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on."  

           – Richard Feynman

As we continue forwards in our collective journey, scaling the cosmic ladder of evolution, progressing onwards, expanding our reach outwards to other worlds, and other stars, in the transition to become a multiplanetary species—Earth comes into view as a destination, no longer limited as a point of origin. We stand on the shores of a vast cosmic ocean, with untold continents of possibility yet to explore. From early childhood, I set out to convey a profound and positive impact on the long-term future of humanity, to make the world a better place for the generations yet to come. I committed my life purpose to the singular objective of ensuring that integrity, balance, and ethical responsibility hold paramount importance as priorities in scientific research and principal government leadership as we're collectively propelled forwards as a species. With unprecedented leaps and bounds of progress in our scientific understanding—enabled by the development of converging and expanding exponential technologies—newfound, unexpected discoveries await, just over the horizon. Rapid advances in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, molecular nanotechnology, neuroscience, renewable energy, spaceflight, supercomputing and quantum technologies—each enabled by the rapid technological progress of Moore’s Law doublings in computer processing power, speed and complexity—will converge to confer radical changes to our society over coming decades, as we move forward in the collective transition towards the dawn of a post-scarcity economy. The future is unbounded. The responsibility falls upon us to ensure that its limitless potential is filled with dreams of hope, happiness, freedom and fulfillment. I began my scientific career at a Deep Future, multidisciplinary research institute—Starlab—located in the serene and secluded forests outside Brussels, Belgium. Our research institute, co-founded by MIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte and established in partnership with MIT, Oxford and Ghent University, was created as a "Noah's Ark" to bring together the world's most brilliant and creative scientists to work on far-ranging projects that hold the potential to convey a profound and positive impact on future generations. My research group and artificial intelligence project at the lab was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2001 as the “World's Most Complex Artificial Brain.” I lived and worked at the institute, soon taking up research collaborations with the principal scientists of our NASA and USAF-sponsored time travel division—profiled in a prominent Discovery Channel Special—in work that was widely published, featured in a Discover Magazine cover story, and continues to this day: we just completed a chapter contribution to a Springer academic volume on Spacetime from Quantum Topology. When our laboratory came up short on research grants, I personally went to the President himself to request $1M in additional budget from funds allocated through Clinton's 2001 National Nanotechnology Initiative. For my contributions to the program, I was selected by the US Government as one of three graduate students most likely to impact the future of the field at Salishan, sponsored to attend conferences and senior administrator briefings at national agency headquarters outside Washington, DC, attended the World Technology Summit in London, was an invited delegate to the French Sénat to provide testimony on the future of technology and how it will transform our lives over coming decades—and more. That was my first job out of college. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, I volunteered and was subsequently elected to serve as Chairman for a UN Disarmament and International Security Committee, leading more than 500 diplomats to address and combat the threats of international terrorism, global and regional nuclear security, and information warfare.

My Chair Report to the General Assembly on the promise and perils posed by the rapid acceleration of unpredictable advances in converging technologies was read by the UN Secretary General, at the Executive Office of the President, by National Security Advisors, at Presidential and Prime Minister's offices around the world—was instrumental in building political momentum and influencing Congressional policy to establish the foundations for US Cyber Command—and was subsequently recognized with the 2004 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Policy.

That's when things started to get exciting ...

           – Christopher Altman

* Special thanks to USAF General Pete Worden for insight and inspiration. Photos from Starlab and spaceflight training at NASA Ames, Johnson Space Center and commercial providers around the country, 2009 - present.

See also: Astronaut scientists for hire open new research frontier in space