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By harvesting energy from the quantum field, the Casimir microsparc is like a battery that never needs recharging or a solar panel that works in the dark.
Entering the quantum scale
Quantum space is filled with constantly fluctuating fields and particles, a seething sea of microscopic energy.
Here’s how the Casimir Effect works.
THEORIZATION OF CASIMIR EFFECT
1948
In 1948, Hendrik Casimir theorized the the Casimir force. Imagine two metal plates placed just 100 nm apart inside a perfect vacuum chamber. Classically, we’d expect zero pressure everywhere, inside and outside the gap. But in reality, a negative pressure pulls the plates together because electromagnetic wavelengths longer than the gap cannot fit in the cavity, leading to an energy differential.
IDENTIFICATION OF CASIMIR EFFECT
1997
In 1997, Steven Lamoreaux measures the Casimir Force and the energy differential for the first time.
This happens because quantum fields have wave-like modes. Modes with wavelengths larger than the plate separation can’t fit in the gap, so the vacuum energy density between the plates is lower than outside. This energy gradient creates the Casimir force, a real, measurable push.
WHY A SIMPLE CASIMIR CAVITY CAN'T POWER THE WORLD
But the Casimir force only generates a brief pulse of energy before forcing the plates together.
To generate continuous power from quantum fields, the Casimir cavity concept must be adapted’
So we engineered a custom nano-structure that interacts with quantum fields to harvest energy.
Introducing a new dawn in power, the Casimir microsparc.
The Casimir approach fixes the plates to a silicon substrate so they cannot move and connects them electrically. In the center gap, we add a line of electrically connected nano-pillars that are isolated from the plates allowing us to harvest energy.
The novel invention of a casimir cavity
Imagine a Pacific atoll. The ocean outside is full of chaotic wave energy, while the lagoon inside is calm. In the same way, the outer plates feel the full “wave energy” of the quantum vacuum. Every so often, an electron tunnels from the plates to the central pillars. Inside the gap, the calm lagoon fluctuations are weaker, so the electron is unlikely to return.
When the plates and pillars are connected through a circuit, electrons flow back to the plates, and the cycle repeats without stopping. By combining many of these cavities, Casimir can produce steady power at the levels needed for everyday electronics and far beyond.
microsparc development progress
The microsparc chip Prototyping
Jan 17, 2025
Working with our university partners, we have manufactured several generations of Casimir chip designs exploring the parameter space to achieve target performance.
Working in the university clean room
As you might imagine, the team spends a large amount of time working in clean rooms in pursuit of performance. Just another day in the lab!
Microprobe testing station
Specialized probe equipment allows the team to evaluate progress at multiple stages of chip manufacturing to ensure manufacturing objectives have been met.
As we achieve target performance, we will scale the power output by fabricating chip assemblies that have multiple layers of devices on a substrate along with numerous chips die stacked together to achieve 100x performance in the same footprint. These chip assemblies will be aggregated to achieve higher power output.
See the manufacturing and testing process of microsparc—the world's first UNLIMITED POWER SUPPLY
What could you do with unlimited power?
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