Can Space-Time be Distorted by Anything Other Than Mass?

Question

We know that mass distorts space-time. We also know that Einstein equated mass to energy. We believe that mass is energy and energy is mass.

Can space-time be distorted by anything other than mass? If energy can be transferred from point A to point B in space-time without the "delivery vehicle" of a moving body (mass), must space-time distort in order for that to be possible?

$\uparrow$ Well, energy curves spacetime, cf. http://physics.stackexchange.com/q/107808/2451 and links therein. — Qmechanic, Jan 15 '17 at 15:29
Possible duplicate: http://physics.stackexchange.com/q/43251/50583 — ACuriousMind, Jan 15 '17 at 15:31
@ACuriousMind One of twistor59's comments in your reference greatly interests me. — Inquisitive, Jan 15 '17 at 15:41
The Einstein Field Equations, $G_{\mu\nu}=8 \pi T_{\mu \nu}$, has $T$ the stress-energy tensor, which describes the flow of energy and momentum through a volume of spacetime. So pressure "distorts spacetime" too, and so does anything else which changes the stress-energy tensor. — , Jan 15 '17 at 18:23
Radiation does move energy from one spatial region to another. Could be electromagnetic or gravitational waves. No body of mass needed, both of those have energy and no rest mass, or body. As they move they distort the spacetime. — Bob Bee, Jan 16 '17 at 05:56

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 15 '17 at 18:11

It would be a mechanism that can exploit space itself to transport matter energy from point A to point B. Kind of warp drive. I am not saying it is possible, but if it is possible, then yes, it would warp/distort space in a manner that would be different from the way "mere presence of mass/energy" curves the space.

So, yes, space has to be warped/distorted to make it possible, what you have described - i.e. transport mass/energy from point A to point B without "delivery vehicle" of a moving body (mass). But what is transported itself is moving mass/energy, but it would be goods container, not delivery vehicle.

Can Space-Time be Distorted by Anything Other Than Mass?

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