Zero Point Laser

[djolds1]

Ex nihilo: Dynamical Casimir effect in metamaterial converts vacuum fluctuations into real photons
March 8, 2013
by Stuart Mason Dambrot

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(a) Equivalent electrical and mechanical circuits: the modulation of the Josephson inductance in the metamaterial by a magnetic φext varies the wave length λ with respect to the cavity length, which is analogous to modulating the effective length d of the cavity by mechanical means. The coupling capacitor is equivalent to a semitransparent mirror. (b) Schematics of the measurement setup. The metamaterial sample is a 4-mm-long coplanar waveguide with 250 embedded SQUIDs, each junction having a critical current of ~ 10 μA. The modulation of the flux through the SQUIDs is realized through a lithographically fabricated spiral coil underneath the metamaterial. (c) Resonant frequency ωres/2π vs. reduced magnetic flux φext/φ0 without the pump signal; the DC operating point for DCE experiments is denoted by a green circle. The inset displays the measured phase of the scattering parameter S11 while sweeping frequency, which yields d arg(S11)/dφext = d arg(S11)/dfÍdf/dφext . The steepness of the variation in the phase arg(S11) governs the effective "movement of the mirrors". Copyright © PNAS, doi:10.1073/pnas.1212705110

(Phys.org) —In the strange world of quantum mechanics, the vacuum state (sometimes referred to as the quantum vacuum, simply as the vacuum) is a quantum system's lowest possible energy state. While not containing physical particles, neither is it an empty void: Rather, the quantum vacuum contains fluctuating electromagnetic waves and so-called virtual particles, the latter being known to transition into and out of existence. In addition, the vacuum state has zero-point energy – the lowest quantized energy level of a quantum mechanical system – that manifests itself as the static Casimir effect, an attractive interaction between the opposite walls of an electromagnetic cavity. Recently, scientists at Aalto University in Finland and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland demonstrated the dynamical Casimir effect using a Josephson metamaterial embedded in a microwave cavity. They showed that under certain conditions, real photons are generated in pairs, and concluded that their creation was consistent with quantum field theory predictions.

[Skipjack]

So if you can create photons out or the quantum vacuum can you then bring these photons to use somehow? Wouldnt that mean zero point energy? I though that was discredited already?

[djolds1]

So if you can create photons out or the quantum vacuum can you then bring these photons to use somehow? Wouldnt that mean zero point energy? I though that was discredited already?

Not so much discredited as known methods are so difficult and inefficient as to not be worth it.

This however, looks to be a new method.

[chrismb]

So if you can create photons out or the quantum vacuum can you then bring these photons to use somehow? Wouldnt that mean zero point energy? I though that was discredited already?

Not so much discredited as known methods are so difficult and inefficient as to not be worth it.

This however, looks to be a new method.

This is a dynamic effect. The cavity has to be pumped with energy for the photons to come out of it.

Total photon energy out < energy in.

Think of it, if one wants, as a 'sensor' detecting the vacuum fluctuations within; apply the power and if there are vacuum fluctuations then photons would be seen, if not then no photons should come out of it.

Maybe it could be used to detect subtleties of the 'vacuum fluctuation world', like some star trek 'sub-space receiver' device, but one must be careful on this site not to light the fires of misunderstanding some half-conceived concept, then running with it until one gets petaWatt class warp drives, because the forum is so wont to do so.