Sontag’s Capstone: Exploring Communication Faster Than Light
William Archacki
The McMullen Capstone Experience is a project where seniors research and report on a topic which interests them. For Andrew Sontag '19, this area of interest is faster than light (FTL) communication, the idea of sending information faster than the universal speed limit set by the speed of light in a vacuum.
In his eighty-six-page final report on the subject, Sontag details the practicality of various methods which physicists believe could potentially be used to send information faster than the speed of light. From black holes to warp drives, this Capstone tackles some of the most controversial topics in the world of cutting-edge physics.
Of the methods of FTL communication which are examined, several are familiar elements of science fiction. Both wormholes and warp drives are believed to be physically possible, although not currently feasible. Other methods include quantum tunneling, where a particle jumps across a physical barrier without ever passing through it. This is believed to be the most viable method of FTL communication, and some physicists claim to have observed it. Claims surrounding this type of discovery are surrounded by skepticism because physicists do not agree on what constitutes true FTL communication and what is simply a bad inference of experimental results. Despite this controversy, Sontag believes that FTL communication will either be undeniably achieved or proved impossible in the near future. Whether or not this holds true will depend upon the work of future physicists.
Sontag’s Capstone could not have been done without the resources provided by Calvert Hall. Faculty such as Sontag’s faculty advisor, Mr. Chris Taddiken, helped with the many steps in writing the Capstone. Likewise, the classes which Sontag took here helped him single out physics as the field of study he wanted to research: “My classes helped to prepare me for my Capstone by giving me a wide base of general knowledge. I used this base to decide which topic to choose, and which direction to take it.”
Sontag’s interest in FTL communication in particular came from his interest in the claims made by some physicists that the concept itself is impossible. The challenge of figuring out whether or not FTL communication is possible is what inspired Sontag to take on this project. In this way, Sontag’s Capstone has taken on and explained one of the greatest issues in the world of physics today.