Quantum Vacuum Energy Extraction

Olga Dmitriyeva, Garret Moddel

Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering
Concept University of Colorado, Boulder Findings
Extraction of quantum vacuum energy
Experiment Expected:
• Emission to be higher for Xe gas than for other gases
by capturing radiation (see Casimir cavity conditions calculations section).
Objective: to test for emission from gas flowing into Casimir cavities • Emission to be higher for gold coated Casimir cavities.
emitted from gas entering Casimir cavities.
Cavities: Whatman Nanopore
polycarbonate membranes (pores Emission for different gases as function of gas flow
Energy absorbed
by atoms from diameter 0.2-0.4 µm) for different types of membrane
Energy radiated by atoms quantum vacuum field Gases: 3
Casimir cavity He, Ar, Xe, N2
7 Polycarbonate membrane 0.2 μm Au coated membrane 0.2 µm
gas flow 6 2.5

5
Measurement set-up: 2

Signal (mV)
Pyroelectric detector N2 N2

Signal (mV)
4
Ar 1.5 Ar


3 Xe Xe
Radiation He 1 He
Gas flow 2

pump Membrane 0.5

1

gas flow 0 0

signal
0 5 10 15 0 5 10 15
Gas flow (sccm) Gas flow (sccm)
When atoms enter into suitable Casimir cavities a
decrease in the orbital energies of electrons in atoms To the pump
should occur according to Stochastic Electrodynamics Observed: experimental results do not follow expected trends:
(see below). Such energy emission can be detected reference
Lock-in amplifier • Xe does not show the strongest signal
(extracted) • Emission from gold coated membrane is weaker than from
ON/OFF
dielectric membrane.
• Vacuum chamber holds membrane.
Stochastic • Pyroelectric detector placed outside the chamber facing IR
transparent window above sample.

Electrodynamics • Gas flows into nanocavities (small arrows), while radiation (light blue arrows)
expected to be emitted.
Conclusions
• Gas flow modulated by opening/closing valve to pump.
• Valve switch provides reference signal to lock-in amplifier. • Emission observed from gases flowing
We are interested in the output radiation that follows this frequency.
through Casimir cavities.

• No clear evidence that this emission is

Casimir cavity conditions due to quantum vacuum energy extraction.

Seeking optimum Casimir cavity dimensions to suppress relevant wavelengths.

d < λ/2 – required size of the Casimir cavity He λ ≈ 103 nm Future Work
Ar λ ≈ 138 nm
Xenon outer orbital energy corresponds to • Carry out thermodynamic analysis to determine source(s)
d = 0.1 - 0.2 µm Casimir cavity size
Xe λ ≈ 176 nm
for emission other than quantum vacuum energy extraction.
• Experiment with smaller pore sizes.
Expected power out • Investigate different types of membranes.

Assuming: • Release of 1eV of energy per atom per transition

• Porosity 0.1
• Gas flow 10 sccm Acknowledgement
Total radiated power = 80 mW Work supported by HUB Lab & Jovion Corp.
Special Thanks to Mr. McConnel and Mr. Cantwell from Coolescence