[sfifs]

> (a) If these models break down somewhere I would expect it to happen under much more extreme conditions and not with a 'table-top' experiment like this one.

To push back on this kind of thinking a bit, Einstein's breakthrough papers on Brownian motion (which served as evidence of existence of Atoms and Molecules) and the photo electric effect (which demonstrated validity of the Quantum theory of light) were very much "tabletop" effects.

While there's no denying this requires extraordinary proof, I think it's equally important for physicists to prevent themselves being biased by pre-conceived notions.

[kwhitefoot]

> were very much "tabletop" effects.

Yes but they were very well known tabletop effects. What was lacking was the theory to explain them.

[snowwrestler]

They were well-known by Einstein's time because by then they had been demonstrated many times. But someone had to have been the first to see and report the photoelectric effect.

What we need now is other physicists to test their own "Q thruster." If no one else detects a thrust, well, fine, chalk it up to weird error and move on. If other people do find a thrust, then we're into "we don't have a theory yet" territory.