Enhanced quantum vacuum energy devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12166434-B2
Application number	US-202217570059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2022
Priority date	Jan 6, 2021
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

Described herein are devices incorporating Casimir cavities, which modify the quantum vacuum mode distribution within the cavities. The Casimir cavities can create energy differences within layers or device to drive energy from or to a portion of a layer disposed adjacent to or contiguous with the Casimir cavity by modifying the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on one portion of the layer to be different from the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on another portion of the layer. Additionally, Casimir cavities in which the cavity layer comprises a conductor that can be used to carry a flow of electrical power induced by the presence of the Casimir cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode; and
a Casimir cavity adjoining the first electrode and the second electrode, the Casimir cavity comprising:
a first reflector comprising at least a portion of the first electrode;
a second reflector comprising at least a portion of the second electrode, and
a cavity layer between the first reflector and the second reflector, the cavity layer comprising a transparent conductor layer in contact with the second electrode and a transport layer in contact with the first electrode, wherein the transparent conductor layer and the transport layer comprise solid state materials, and wherein the transport layer comprises a material that is more insulating than the transparent conductor.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent conductor layer comprises a conductive polymer, a doped conductive polymer, a conductive polymer blend, a doped conductive polymer blend, or a transparent conducting oxide, wherein the first electrode or the second electrode comprises a metal, and wherein the transport layer comprises a dielectric, a semiconductor, or a metal oxide.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a metamaterial that enhances hot carrier emission.

4. A cavity transport device comprising:
a Casimir cavity including:
a first reflector comprising a first material,
a second reflector comprising a second material, and
a cavity layer between the first reflector and the second reflector, the cavity layer comprising solid state materials, and wherein an asymmetry (i) between the first reflector and the second reflector corresponding to a difference in composition or structure between the first material and the second material, or (ii) between an optical mode density at an interior of the Casimir cavity and an optical mode density at an exterior of the Casimir cavity drives a flow of energy at least partially through the Casimir cavity.

5. The cavity transport device of claim 4 , wherein the asymmetry between the first reflector and the second reflector corresponds to one or more of:
the first material and the second material comprising different metals,
the first material and the second material exhibiting different optical photoemission character from one another, or
the first material including a metamaterial that enhances an optical absorption character of the first reflector as compared to the second reflector.

6. The cavity transport device of claim 4 , wherein the flow of energy is at least partly between the interior of the Casimir cavity and the exterior of the Casimir cavity in a direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the first reflector and the second reflector.

7. The cavity transport device of claim 4 , wherein the flow of energy is at least partly between the first reflector and the second reflector in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the first reflector and the second reflector.

8. A cavity transport device comprising:
a Casimir cavity including:
a first reflector comprising a first material,
a second reflector comprising a second material, and
a cavity layer between the first reflector and the second reflector, wherein an asymmetry between an optical mode density at an interior of the Casimir cavity and an optical mode density at an exterior of the Casimir cavity drives a flow of energy at least partially through the Casimir cavity, and wherein the cavity layer includes a transparent conductor positioned to collect charge flowing into the cavity layer from the first reflector or the second reflector.

9. The cavity transport device of claim 8 , wherein the flow of energy is at least partly between the interior of the Casimir cavity and the exterior of the Casimir cavity in a direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the first reflector and the second reflector.

10. The cavity transport device of claim 8 , wherein the flow of energy is at least partly between the first reflector and the second reflector in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the first reflector and the second reflector.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Moddel Garret

Classifications

• H10N10/10

  operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects · CPC title

• H02N11/008 Primary

  Alleged electric or magnetic perpetua mobilia · CPC title