| Description | Contain e-mails between Thomas Gold and various individuals about the solar sail and the mirror, June-August 2003, January 2004. Also contains the following papers by Thomas Gold: 'The transition of quantum theory to the thermal regime', June 2000; 'The solar sail and the mirror' [nd]; 'The success of apologia', 14 Sep 2000. Also includes a photocopied article by Paul Parsons, 'Solar sailing 'breaks the laws of physics'' [New Scientist, 2003] about solar sailing and why Thomas Gold thought that the concept would not work. There are also three drafts of the paper Thomas Gold was working on at the time of his death, 'Through the looking glass: relativity, quantum theory and the mirror' [2004]. There is also a letter to Thomas Gold from Marion McPheeters, dated 21 September 2004, about a presentation he was giving on 'The relation of thermodynamics to the laws of physics'. |
| AdminHistory | Gold thought that the idea of solar sailing, i.e. of harnessing sunlight to propel a spacecraft across the solar system, would not work because it contravenes the laws of thermodynamics. |