Visualization of a Morris-Thorne wormhole

The Morris-Thorne wormhole spacetime is one of the most simple, non-trivial solution of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity[1]. However, it is not so easy to understand what an observer traveling through this wormhole spacetime would actually see. The most straight forward method to visualize the first-person view is four-dimensional ray-tracing [2,3].

A detailed discussion of the visual appearance of a Morris-Thorne wormhole is given in [4].

relavis

Images

Movies

The observer moves around the wormhole on a circular orbit looking towards the center of the wormhole. After one full revolution, he flies through the wormhole. MTflight_720x576.mp4 (mpeg4, 17MB) MTflight_360x288.mp4 (mpeg4, 3MB)

The observer throws a soccer ball towards the center of the wormhole. MTballFront_720x576.mp4 (mpeg4, 2.1MB) MTballFront_360x288.mp4 (mpeg4, 584kB)

A soccer ball is thrown towards the center of the wormhole from a point to the right of the observer. MTballRight_720x576.mp4 (mpeg4, 2.8MB) MTballRight_360x288.mp4 (mpeg4, 808kB)

The observer travels through a wormhole that is surrounded by two rooms. mtRaumPanoramaFlug_1200x300.mov (Quicktime, 81MB)

The observer orbits around the wormhole that is surrounded by two rooms. mtRaumDreh_720x720.mov (Quicktime, 148MB)

The observer travels along the wormhole throat. mtRaumHalsFlug_500x500.mov (Quicktime, 81MB)

Wormhole with a "Contact-machine" on each side by Oliver Fechtig [5]. MTcontact_360x288.mp4 (mpeg4, 23MB)

All contents copyright © 2008, Thomas Müller
All rights reserved.

References

• [1] M. S. Morris and K. S. Thorne.
  Wormholes in spacetime and their use for interstellar travel: A tool for teaching general relativity.
  Am. J. Phys. 56, 395-412 (1988)
• [2] D. Weiskopf.
  Visualization of Four-Dimensional Spacetimes
  Dissertation (2001)
• [3] T. Müller.
  Visualisierung in der Relativitätstheorie.
  Dissertation (2006)
• [4] T. Müller.
  Visual appearance of a Morris-Thorne-Wormhole.
  Am. J. Phys. 72, 1045-1050 (2004),    Additional material: EPAPS: E-AJPIAS-72-014407
• [5] O. Fechtig
  Physikalische Aspekte und Visualisierung von stationären Wurmlöchern.
  Diplomarbeit (2004)

Links

• Flight through a Wormhole (Corvin Zahn)

Letzte Änderung 2008-11-17 (muelleta)