A Test for the Existence of Mach Effects With a Rotary Device
James F. Woodward
Department of Physics, California State University
Abstract. Owing to the variation in the results of several experiments designed to produce thrust with devices employing Mach effects, it was decided to design an experiment with the simple purpose of determining whether or not Mach effects actually exist, and if they can be produced when the “bulk” acceleration and internal energy changes required to produce them are separately supplied. In the experiment arrays of eight 500 pf high voltage capacitors are mounted on the end of a rotor and spun to and from speeds of about 60 Hz (3600 rpm) while they are excited with a 40 KHz voltage signal with amplitudes up to 6 KV. The capacitors are sandwiched between two accelerometers and any Mach effect mass fluctuation is detected as a weight fluctuation that produces signals in the accelerometers that are antiphase. Those signals are subtracted with a differential instrumentation amplifier that suppresses other signals as common mode noise. Signals with the properties sought have been found and recorded with video equipment. They suggest that Mach effects are real, and that the bulk accelerations and internal energy changes that produce them can in fact be separately supplied.
Fiber-Optic-Gyroscope Measurements Close to Rotating Liquid Helium
M. Tajmar and F. Plesescu
Space Propulsion & Advanced Concepts, Austrian Institute of Technology
Abstract. We previously reported anomalous fiber-optic gyroscope signals observed above spinning rings at temperatures close to liquid helium. Our results suggested that the liquid helium itself may be the source of our observed phenomenon. We constructed a new cryostat experiment that allows rotating a large quantity of liquid helium together with a superconducting niobium tube. The facility is built in such a way that our gyroscope can be placed directly in the center of rotation along the axis; however, the cryostat is built around the gyroscope to allow measuring without interference of helium liquid or gas. This paper summarizes the measurements from this new setup.
A Test for the Existence of Mach Effects With a Rotary Device
I'd like to see the experimental design.
If there is any chance the capacitors can touch the accelerometers I would greatly doubt the results.
Also. I'd like to see their rotation set up and how they measure the angular change and rate of change. It would also be good if the capacitor excitation frequency was not harmonically related to rotation speed.
The trouble with 60 Hz is that the harmonics are only 60 Hz apart. 400 Hz would be better. But not much. About 10KHz or 20KHz would be best.
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...spun to and from speeds of about 60 Hz (3600 rpm) while they are excited with a 40 KHz voltage signal...
That implies he recorded data while sweeping the angular velocity up and down. 60 Hz was just the turnaround point, so there should be data for nonharmonic frequencies. Hopefully it was a slow sweep. Spinning faster might worsen bearing/structure resonance issues. Magnetic bearings would be nice for higher rpm tests.
...spun to and from speeds of about 60 Hz (3600 rpm) while they are excited with a 40 KHz voltage signal...
That implies he recorded data while sweeping the angular velocity up and down. 60 Hz was just the turnaround point, so there should be data for nonharmonic frequencies. Hopefully it was a slow sweep. Spinning faster might worsen bearing/structure resonance issues. Magnetic bearings would be nice for higher rpm tests.
That is the 666th (or so) harmonic of 60 Hz. What I was suggesting is a motor that can be run on 10KHz to 20KHz.
I think some of the hybrid car motors can do that.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.