About

I am interested in fanning the spark of a new way of looking at our world, namely that we are approaching the technological capability of entering deep space, that shortly thereafter we will have a culture of migration into space and that this will profoundly shape our sense of what it is to be human. - Paul Kirsch

This website is an adjunct to my book This Way to the Stars available from Timeless Voyager Pressand Amazon.com.

This Way to the Stars describes a space probe that could theoretically travel interstellar distances. It is illustrated throughout showing the reader complex principles of physics in simple terms with full color pictures.

Current space propulsion systems are based on 13th century physics - directed jets of fuel out the back push a rocket forward. Breakthrough propulsion systems emphasize new paradigms that focus on quantum properties. Since a paper published by George Gamow in 1928 in which quantum particles were observed to tunnel - move from one place to another without having the apparent energy to do so - new possibilities of propulsion have piqued the curiosity of researchers.

Why can't this quantum tunneling be duplicated on a macroscopic scale? I describe a process, based on the research of Unitel, a company in Oregon, where powerful spinning lasers might break up the fabric of space-time and create a hole. This controlled hole allows for the passage of information from a probe (that resembles a giant electron) to part of a photon (a positron) ejected from a distant star. In theory the probe will travel through higher dimensional space to join its precise match at the distant location.

This Way to the Stars details this process, the underlying theories and the materials involved. The contributions of various scientists that led to these theories is also described. The book is targeted at high school audiences through advanced academics interested in new methods of space travel.

The website provides a forum for expression of ideas that are connected to my book, in particular regarding the social implications of deep space travel. It is also intended as a venue for interested readers to contact me and respond to what I have written.

I have mentioned in the book that I am not a trained physicist. I am someone who wanted to report some brilliant ideas developed by others. This makes my position tenuous in terms of those who are highly trained in specific fields of physics and engineering. My thinking, is that being a generalist may have helped in this case. That is, I might not have been able to construct this book – that describes complex technology and theory across a spectrum of fields – had I been a specialist. Also, well-developed fields do not often yield to the development of new products and new paradigms. It is sometimes from distant and detached perspectives that integrative work evolves.

Lastly, I want to present, how migration to space may become an issue in society and focus our attention to space, rather than celebrity scandals and senseless violence. These ideas will be set forth in the blog.

Bio

Mr. Kirsch received his BFA degree in filmmaking from NYU in 1980. Thereafter he attended the American Film Institute for one year as a directing fellow in 1986. He received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills with honors in 2002. He currently works in medical grants administration. He is married and has one son.