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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
07:49
Development of an Experimental Setup for the Measurement of the Coefficient of Restitution under Vacuum Conditions
Published on: March 29, 2016
Feigel effect: Extraction of momentum from vacuum?
Ole Jakob Birkeland1, Iver Brevik
1Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|February 1, 2008
Summary
This study generalizes Casimir theory to magnetoelectric media, predicting that electromagnetic momentum can be extracted from vacuum fields. This occurs naturally, unlike previous theories requiring strong external fields.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Electrodynamics
- Electromagnetism
Background:
- The Casimir effect demonstrates energy extraction from vacuum fluctuations.
- Previous work suggested momentum extraction from vacuum fields using strong external fields.
- Magnetoelectric (ME) media exhibit coupled electric and magnetic responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generalize Casimir theory to magnetoelectric media.
- To investigate the extraction of electromagnetic momentum from vacuum fields in ME media.
- To explore natural ME coupling mechanisms for vacuum momentum extraction.
Main Methods:
- Developed a Green-function formalism for electromagnetic fields in ME media.
- Generalized conventional Casimir theory.
- Analyzed vacuum field properties under natural ME coupling.
- Considered a single electromagnetic mode for qualitative verification.
Main Results:
- The formalism predicts the extraction of electromagnetic momentum from vacuum fields.
- This momentum extraction is analogous to energy extraction in the standard Casimir effect.
- The effect is observed with naturally occurring ME coupling, not requiring external fields.
- Qualitative confirmation was obtained by analyzing a single electromagnetic mode.
Conclusions:
- The Green-function formalism provides a framework for understanding vacuum momentum extraction in ME media.
- Natural magnetoelectric coupling offers a pathway for vacuum momentum extraction.
- This work extends Casimir physics into the realm of magnetoelectric phenomena.
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