Abstract
This paper describes the fundamental properties of wormholes. Using General Relativity, we find that
there is a suprisingly simple metric which describes a spacetime that forms such a wormhole. This
geometry possesses two variable functions b(r) and Φ(r), which can be used to change the properties
of the wormhole. We investigate what properties are needed to make it possible for human beings
to cross such a region of spacetime, posing boundary conditions on both b and Φ. We find that it
is theoretically possible to form a traversible wormhole, but that the matter required to make it is
“exotic”, it has τ > ρc2 , and show that this implies a direct violation of the weak-energy condition.
Nevertheless, the theoretical consequences of the existence of wormholes are reviewed, especially
causality violation and superluminal travel.
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