Chinese Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU)[edit]
In 2008 a team of Chinese researchers led by Juan Yang (杨涓), professor of propulsion theory and engineering of aeronautics and astronautics at NWPU, claimed to have developed a valid electro-magnetic theory behind a microwave resonant cavity thruster.[8][50] A demonstration version of the drive was built and tested with different cavity shapes and at higher power levels in 2010.[13] A maximum thrust of 720 mN was reported at 2,500 W of input power-roughly 0.3 mN/W. This was observed on an aerospace engine test stand usually used to precisely test spacecraft engines like ion drives.[6][15][16][17][51] As of 2015, this is by far the most significant test of such a device to date.
The editor of Wired magazine who covered these experimental results reported that he received comments from the Chinese researchers stating "the publicity was very unwelcome, especially any suggestion that there might be a military application"[7] and that Yang told him that "she is not able to discuss her work until more results are published".[6]
NASA/JSC Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory (Eagleworks)[edit]
White's team at Eagleworks is devoted to studying advanced propulsion systems that they hope to develop using quantum vacuum and spacetime engineering.[52] The group has investigated a wide range of untested and fringe proposals, including RF resonant cavity thrusters and related concepts.