Quantum Ripples? Would someone please explain what quantum ripples are? I've heard of gravitational waves, are they the same thing? 
I overheard someone saying that it could allow for possible faster than light speed travel? Is this true or complete nonsense. 
 A: I have never encountered the term "quantum ripple" as a technical term in physics.  As s result, I'm not equipped to assert whether they are the same as gravitational waves, but I suspect that whoever you've been talking to about this is not using the term "quantum ripple" synonymously with "gravitational wave."  Nonetheless, here are some quantum things that one might call a "ripple" in some sense:


*

*In the context of quantum mechanics, the state of a particle is described by function, called its wavefunction, and this wavefunction essentially encodes the probability that you would obtain certain values for certain observable quantities if you were to make a measurement of these quantities on the particle.  Often wave functions look like ripply, periodic functions, so one might be inclined to use the term "quantum ripple" to describe these functions.

*In the context of quantum field theory, particles, like photons for example, can be thought of as excitations of certain quantum fields.  The intuition that some physicists have, including myself, is to picture such excitations as sort of "ripples," in the fields, so you might also be inclined to think of these as "quantum ripples."
Faster than light travel is almost surely nonsense (I don't say complete nonsense only because I feel uncomfortable making such definitive statements, but complete nonsense might be a better description)
Hope that helps!
Cheers!
