Bergenholm space drive
Encyclopedia
In E.E. "Doc" Smith's
fictional Lensman
series, the Bergenholm generator is the key to faster-than-light
transportation. It functions by rendering an object inertialess
so that it instantly takes on an analogue of terminal velocity
: that is, the speed and direction of motion in which frictional resistance from the medium it is travelling through is equal and opposite to the applied force, such as the force of a ship's jets. The maximum speed possible with the Bergenholm drive depends on the force exerted by a ship's jets, the density of matter around the ship, and even the size and streamlining of the ship. Thus, intergalactic space travel is possible in reasonably short time, because the matter in intergalactic space is less dense than in interstellar space
.
To maintain conservation of momentum, ships under Bergenholm drive retain a (temporarily suspended) 'intrinsic velocity' as well as the actual velocity they move at. When a Bergenholm is switched off (or disabled), an inertialess ("free") object resumes its 'intrinsic velocity', the velocity it had when the Bergenholm was activated. As a result, a ship must use its jets for some time while in a non-inertialess ("inert") condition to match speed with destination planets. Matching velocities is usually and more easily done after arrival, but if the velocity of the destination is known it may be done before engaging the Bergenholm. Also, and for the same reasons, two ships that make a rendezvous must match intrinsic velocities. It can be very dangerous for any object or substance to come aboard a ship while the ship is under Bergenholm drive. Once the Bergenholm is deactivated, the foreign object will resume its own intrinsic velocity, which may be very different from that of the ship. In such a case it will become a very dangerous projectile.
The Bergenholm also acts as an unconventional form of defense: an inertialess ship will be instantly pushed away from an attacker by the slight force exerted on it by the weapon being used. Thus, tractor beam
s are required to hold a ship while it is fired upon in order to do any damage.
The Bergenholm appears to violate conservation of energy
. In tall buildings, elevators are replaced with open vertical shafts in which people travel up and down using personal-sized Bergenholms. A person descending a shaft activates their personal Bergenholm and falls down the shaft, instantaneously attaining terminal velocity, and decelerating instantaneously on reaching the ground at the bottom without shock or injury. The person must lose gravitational potential energy in so moving from higher altitude to lower but this energy just seems to disappear; no mechanism for its dissipation is ever mentioned.
Neutralisation of inertia would have severe unwanted effects which are not mentioned in the novels. For example, all thermal motion would cease and chemical reactions would be halted. One effect of this would be at the very least to put living beings into a state of suspended animation and possibly even to kill them. No mention is made of how this and other untoward consequences are avoided.
E. E. Smith
Edward Elmer Smith, Ph.D., also, E. E. Smith, E. E. "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and Ted was a food engineer and early science fiction author who wrote the Lensman series and the Skylark series, among others...
fictional Lensman
Lensman
The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by Edward Elmer "Doc" Smith. It was a runner-up for the Hugo award for best All-Time Series ....
series, the Bergenholm generator is the key to faster-than-light
Faster-than-light
Faster-than-light communications and travel refer to the propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light....
transportation. It functions by rendering an object inertialess
Inertialess drive
The inertialess drive is a fictional means of accelerating to close to the speed of light or faster-than-light travel, originally used in Triplanetary and the Lensman series by E.E. "Doc" Smith, and later by Robert A...
so that it instantly takes on an analogue of terminal velocity
Terminal velocity
In fluid dynamics an object is moving at its terminal velocity if its speed is constant due to the restraining force exerted by the fluid through which it is moving....
: that is, the speed and direction of motion in which frictional resistance from the medium it is travelling through is equal and opposite to the applied force, such as the force of a ship's jets. The maximum speed possible with the Bergenholm drive depends on the force exerted by a ship's jets, the density of matter around the ship, and even the size and streamlining of the ship. Thus, intergalactic space travel is possible in reasonably short time, because the matter in intergalactic space is less dense than in interstellar space
Interstellar Space
Interstellar Space was one of the final studio albums recorded by the saxophonist John Coltrane before his death in 1967, originally-released posthumously by Impulse! Records on LP in 1974.-Composition:...
.
To maintain conservation of momentum, ships under Bergenholm drive retain a (temporarily suspended) 'intrinsic velocity' as well as the actual velocity they move at. When a Bergenholm is switched off (or disabled), an inertialess ("free") object resumes its 'intrinsic velocity', the velocity it had when the Bergenholm was activated. As a result, a ship must use its jets for some time while in a non-inertialess ("inert") condition to match speed with destination planets. Matching velocities is usually and more easily done after arrival, but if the velocity of the destination is known it may be done before engaging the Bergenholm. Also, and for the same reasons, two ships that make a rendezvous must match intrinsic velocities. It can be very dangerous for any object or substance to come aboard a ship while the ship is under Bergenholm drive. Once the Bergenholm is deactivated, the foreign object will resume its own intrinsic velocity, which may be very different from that of the ship. In such a case it will become a very dangerous projectile.
The Bergenholm also acts as an unconventional form of defense: an inertialess ship will be instantly pushed away from an attacker by the slight force exerted on it by the weapon being used. Thus, tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
s are required to hold a ship while it is fired upon in order to do any damage.
The Bergenholm appears to violate conservation of energy
Conservation of energy
The nineteenth century law of conservation of energy is a law of physics. It states that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time. The total energy is said to be conserved over time...
. In tall buildings, elevators are replaced with open vertical shafts in which people travel up and down using personal-sized Bergenholms. A person descending a shaft activates their personal Bergenholm and falls down the shaft, instantaneously attaining terminal velocity, and decelerating instantaneously on reaching the ground at the bottom without shock or injury. The person must lose gravitational potential energy in so moving from higher altitude to lower but this energy just seems to disappear; no mechanism for its dissipation is ever mentioned.
Neutralisation of inertia would have severe unwanted effects which are not mentioned in the novels. For example, all thermal motion would cease and chemical reactions would be halted. One effect of this would be at the very least to put living beings into a state of suspended animation and possibly even to kill them. No mention is made of how this and other untoward consequences are avoided.