FTL travel in a computer simulation

Would it be possible for a highly advanced computer simulation like the Matrix to depict FTL travel? Obviously FTL is, as far as we know, impossible in real life. But a virtual reality that exists within a computer simulation isn't necessarily bound by the same laws of relativity, so would it be possible for a computer to do something like simulate an object moving multiple times the speed of light?

Since this deals with the physics within the simulation and not the real world, I'm not entirely sure this is relevant, but assume the computer running the simulation is of the quantum persuasion (that way the speed of the electric signals transmitting the data in a classic computer won't necessarily become a potential problem).

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The short answer is 'why not?'.

There's no default reason it couldn't be done. If there's going to be a reason, then it has to come from some other constraint on the characteristics of the simulation and the computer running it.

I'm not sure why that would stop being a problem.

Quantum computers are not infinitely fast, or even a bajillion times faster than classical computers. The ones we have so far are actually pretty slow compared to classical computers. Their only advantage is that they can implement certain quantum algorithms that scale to large inputs better than classical algorithms do. This may or may not be useful when implementing a Matrix-like simulation of a universe- again, it depends on the constraints.

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The real problem might be fooling everyone, everyone in the simulation. The FTL travel have to make just as much sense inside the simulation as in the 'real' world. If it doesn't someone will notice that the physics doesn't add up.

Like in S1E9 of Stargate Atlantis where they are stuck in a dream/simulation thingy. Rodney does some experiments with a ZPM and well...

"Let me see if I can make you understand, okay? These results don't just say the Zed-p.m. won't work, they say this reality isn't governed by any natural laws. It's like looking through a microscope at a cell culture and seeing a thousand dancing hamsters."

edited 12th Nov '13 12:31:52 PM by m8e

Oh Rodney

And the simulation wouldn't actually be some sort of well kept secret, so the physics don't necessarily need to match real life. I was just wondering if it was even possible to simulate superluminal speed or if there were some kind of physical limitations on the hardware's ability that prevented it, since I know we have computer programs that can accurately simulate the effects of relativistic speed.

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