Science > Physics > Article: University Of Leicester Leads International Study With Potential That Is 'Stuff Of Science Fiction'
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"Robert Karl Stonjek" |
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01 Aug 2006 04:48:58 PM |
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Article: University Of Leicester Leads International Study With Potential That Is 'Stuff Of Science Fiction' |
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Fantastic Voyage: University Of Leicester Leads International Study With =
Potential That Is 'Stuff Of Science Fiction'
The University of Leicester is leading a three-nation consortium in a =
'fantastic voyage' to explore empty space - with potential benefits that =
have only been explored in the realms of science fiction.
The study aims to delve into a 'void' or empty space in which atoms =
move, which has a large intrinsic energy density known as zero-point =
energy.=20
Recent investment by the University of Leicester in the Virtual =
Microscopy Centre and the Nanoscale Interfaces Centre has put the =
University in a key position to take a lead in Casimir force =
measurements in novel geometries.
The Casimir force is a mysterious interaction between objects that =
arises directly from the quantum properties of the so-called 'void'. =
Within classical Physics the void is a simple absence of all matter and =
energy while quantum theory tells us that in fact it is a seething mass =
of quantum particles that constantly appear into and disappear from our =
observable universe. This gives the void an unimaginably large energy =
density.
The research team carrying out this work has received a grant of =
800,000? from the European framework 6 NEST (New and Emerging Science =
and Technology) programme to lead a consortium from three countries (UK, =
France and Sweden).
The programme, entitled Nanocase, will use the ultra-high vacuum Atomic =
Force Microscope installed in the Physics and Astronomy Department to =
make very high precision Casimir force measurements in non-simple =
cavities and assess the utility of the force in providing a method for =
contactless transmission in nano-machines.
Chris Binns, Professor of Nanoscience at the University of Leicester =
explained: "The research will help to overcome a fundamental problem of =
all nano-machines, that is, machines whose individual components are the =
size of molecules, which is that at this size everything is 'sticky' and =
any components that come into contact stick together. If a method can be =
found to transmit force across a small gap without contact, then it may =
be possible to construct nano-machines that work freely without gumming =
up.
"Such machines are the stuff of science fiction at present and a long =
way off but possible uses include the ability to rebuild damaged human =
cells at the molecular level.
"In a sense the actual value of the zero-point energy is not important =
because everything we know about is on top of it. According to quantum =
field theory every particle is an excitation (a wave) of an underlying =
field (for example the electromagnetic field) in the void and it is only =
the energy of the wave itself that we can detect.
"A useful analogy is to consider our observable universe as a mass of =
waves on top of an ocean, whose depth is immaterial. Our senses and all =
our instruments can only directly detect the waves so it seems that =
trying to probe whatever lies beneath, the void itself, is hopeless. Not =
quite so. There are subtle effects of the zero-point energy that do lead =
to detectable phenomena in our observable universe.
"An example is a force, predicted in 1948 by the Dutch physicist, =
Hendrik Casimir, that arises from the zero-point energy. If you place =
two mirrors facing each other in empty space they produce a disturbance =
in the quantum fluctuations that results in a pressure pushing the =
mirrors together.
"Detecting the Casimir force however is not easy as it only becomes =
significant if the mirrors approach to within less that 1 micrometre =
(about a fiftieth the width of a human hair). Producing sufficiently =
parallel surfaces to the precision required has had to wait for the =
emergence of the tools of nanotechnology to make accurate measurements =
of the force."
The new instrumentation at the University of Leicester will enable =
researchers to extend measurements to yet more complex shapes and, for =
the first time, to search for a way to reverse the Casimir force.
This would be a ground-breaking discovery as the Casimir force is a =
fundamental property of the void and reversing it is akin to reversing =
gravity. Technologically this would only have relevance at very small =
distances but it would revolutionise the design of micro- and =
nano-machines.
The Nanocase partner institutions are: University of Leicester =
Department of Physics and Astronomy, UK (lead institution); University =
of Birmingham, UK; Universit=E9 Pierre et Marie Curie, France; =
Link=F6ping University, Sweden.
Source: University of Leicester
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060630083135.htm
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek
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<H1 class=3Dstory><FONT size=3D5>Fantastic Voyage: University Of =
Leicester Leads=20
International Study With Potential That Is 'Stuff Of Science=20
Fiction'</FONT></H1><SPAN id=3DKonaBody><!-- BODY BEGIN -->
<P class=3Dfirst>The University of Leicester is leading a three-nation =
consortium=20
in a =91fantastic voyage=92 to explore empty space - with potential =
benefits that=20
have only been explored in the realms of science fiction.</P>
<P class=3Dfirst>The study aims to delve into a 'void' or empty space in =
which=20
atoms move, which has a large intrinsic energy density known as =
zero-point=20
energy. </P>
<P></P>
<P>Recent investment by the University of Leicester in the Virtual =
Microscopy=20
Centre and the Nanoscale Interfaces Centre has put the University in a =
key=20
position to take a lead in Casimir force measurements in novel =
geometries.</P>
<P>The Casimir force is a mysterious interaction between objects that =
arises=20
directly from the quantum properties of the so-called 'void'. Within =
classical=20
Physics the void is a simple absence of all matter and energy while =
quantum=20
theory tells us that in fact it is a seething mass of quantum particles =
that=20
constantly appear into and disappear from our observable universe. This =
gives=20
the void an unimaginably large energy density.</P>
<P>The research team carrying out this work has received a grant of =
800,000=80=20
from the European framework 6 NEST (New and Emerging Science and =
Technology)=20
programme to lead a consortium from three countries (UK, France and =
Sweden).</P>
<P>The programme, entitled Nanocase, will use the ultra-high vacuum =
Atomic Force=20
Microscope installed in the Physics and Astronomy Department to make =
very high=20
precision Casimir force measurements in non-simple cavities and assess =
the=20
utility of the force in providing a method for contactless transmission =
in=20
nano-machines.</P>
<P>Chris Binns, Professor of Nanoscience at the University of Leicester=20
explained: "The research will help to overcome a fundamental problem of =
all=20
nano-machines, that is, machines whose individual components are the =
size of=20
molecules, which is that at this size everything is 'sticky' and any =
components=20
that come into contact stick together. If a method can be found to =
transmit=20
force across a small gap without contact, then it may be possible to =
construct=20
nano-machines that work freely without gumming up.</P>
<P>"Such machines are the stuff of science fiction at present and a long =
way off=20
but possible uses include the ability to rebuild damaged human cells at =
the=20
molecular level.</P>
<P>"In a sense the actual value of the zero-point energy is not =
important=20
because everything we know about is on top of it. According to quantum =
field=20
theory every particle is an excitation (a wave) of an underlying field =
(for=20
example the electromagnetic field) in the void and it is only the energy =
of the=20
wave itself that we can detect.</P>
<P>"A useful analogy is to consider our observable universe as a mass of =
waves=20
on top of an ocean, whose depth is immaterial. Our senses and all our=20
instruments can only directly detect the waves so it seems that trying =
to probe=20
whatever lies beneath, the void itself, is hopeless. Not quite so. There =
are=20
subtle effects of the zero-point energy that do lead to detectable =
phenomena in=20
our observable universe.</P>
<P>"An example is a force, predicted in 1948 by the Dutch physicist, =
Hendrik=20
Casimir, that arises from the zero-point energy. If you place two =
mirrors facing=20
each other in empty space they produce a disturbance in the quantum =
fluctuations=20
that results in a pressure pushing the mirrors together.</P>
<P>"Detecting the Casimir force however is not easy as it only becomes=20
significant if the mirrors approach to within less that 1 micrometre =
(about a=20
fiftieth the width of a human hair). Producing sufficiently parallel =
surfaces to=20
the precision required has had to wait for the emergence of the tools of =
nanotechnology to make accurate measurements of the force."</P>
<P>The new instrumentation at the University of Leicester will enable=20
researchers to extend measurements to yet more complex shapes and, for =
the first=20
time, to search for a way to reverse the Casimir force.</P>
<P>This would be a ground-breaking discovery as the Casimir force is a=20
fundamental property of the void and reversing it is akin to reversing =
gravity.=20
Technologically this would only have relevance at very small distances =
but it=20
would revolutionise the design of micro- and nano-machines.</P>
<P>The Nanocase partner institutions are: University of Leicester =
Department of=20
Physics and Astronomy, UK (lead institution); University of Birmingham, =
UK;=20
Universit=E9 Pierre et Marie Curie, France; Link=F6ping University, =
Sweden.</P>
<P><FONT face=3DGeorgia>Source: University of Leicester<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060630083135.htm">ht=
tp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060630083135.htm</A></FONT></P=
<P><FONT face=3DGeorgia>Posted by<BR>Robert Karl=20
Stonjek</FONT></P></SPAN></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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