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Quantised Inertia (QI, of formerly MiHsC) is a theory of inertia that combined quantum mechanics and relativity, offers an alternative to dark matter and a new kind of thruster called a horizon drive. It was first proposed in 2007 by physicist Mike McCulloch, from the University of Plymouth.

The phenomenon of inertial mass is defined in Newton's First Law: "Objects move in straight lines at constant speed unless pushed on" but it has never been explained. Quantised inertia explains inertial mass, for the first time, by combining two predictions:

1. According to relativity, accelerating objects will see a Rindler horizon in the direction opposite to that of their acceleration vector because information travels at the speed of light. 2. An accelerating object will see itself surrounded by a thermal bath of so-called Unruh radiation, as the horizon splits virtual particles, so that they become real.

Quantised Inertia combines these two predictions by saying that the horizon (1) damps the Unruh radiation (2) on one side of the object — rather as sea defenses damp ocean waves. The resulting gradient in the quantum vacuum pushes the object back against it acceleration, explaining inertia.

Quantised Inertia further predicts that for objects with very low accelerations, such as stars at the edges of galaxies, the Rindler horizon moves so far back that it is close to the cosmic horizon. As such, the waves of Unruh radiation are now damped equally all around, and the mechanism of inertia collapses. This explains why stars at the edge of galaxies can orbit faster than expected but still remain bound to the galaxy. Quantised Inertia predicts disc galaxy rotation perfectly without the need for dark matter or any adjustment.

The theory also predicts that a new kind of thruster can be engineered by intensifying the vacuum with high confined accelerations and then putting asymmetric horizons (metal plates) in place. The resulting gradient in the vacuum provides thrust

The theory has been criticised as being incomplete by Renda and by Koberlein