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MEMS Levitation Theorized

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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Aug. 7, 2007 -- Physicists in Scotland said they have discovered a new way of levitating tiny objects that could impact the design of future nanomachines.

They have created "incredible levitation effects" by engineering the force of nature which normally causes objects to stick together by quantum force, theoretical physicists at the University of St. Andrews said. By reversing this phenomenon, known as Casimir force, they hope to solve the problem of tiny objects sticking together in existing novel nanomachines.

Professor Ulf Leonhardt and Thomas Philbin of the university's School of Physics & Astronomy believe that they can manipulate the Casimir force of quantum physics to cause an object to repel rather than attract another in a vacuum. Leonhardt previously theorized that an invisibility cloak could be created, a feat demonstrated last year by researchers at Duke University. (See: Cloak of Partial Invisibility Created

Casimir force (discovered in 1948 and first measured in 1997) can be demonstrated in a gecko's ability to stick to a surface with just one toe. However, it can cause practical problems in nanotechnology, and ways of preventing tiny objects from sticking to each other is the source of much interest.

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"The Casimir force is the ultimate cause of friction in the nanoworld, in particular in some microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)," Leonhardt said. "Such systems already play an important role -- for example tiny mechanical devices which trigger a car airbag to inflate or those which power tiny `lab on chip' devices used for drugs testing or chemical analysis. Micro- or nanomachines could run smoother and with less or no friction at all if one can manipulate the force."

The pair have worked out how to turn the normally `sticky' quantum force of empty space from attraction to repulsion using a specially developed lens placed between two objects.

"In order to reduce friction in the nanoworld, turning nature's stickiness into repulsion could be the ultimate remedy. Instead of sticking together, parts of micromachinery would levitate," said Leonhardt.

But don't sew your cape just yet -- while the scientists said it is possible in principle for humans to levitate, it will be a long time before the technology to accomplish such feats is developed.

"At the moment, in practice it is only going to be possible for micro-objects with the current technology, since this quantum force is small and acts only at short ranges. For now, human levitation remains the subject of cartoons, fairytales and tales of the paranormal," Leonhardt said.

The research will be published in the August edition of the New Journal of Physics.

For more information, visit: www.st-andrews.ac.uk

Published: August 2007
Glossary
astronomy
The scientific observation of celestial radiation that has reached the vicinity of Earth, and the interpretation of these observations to determine the characteristics of the extraterrestrial bodies and phenomena that have emitted the radiation.
casimir force
The Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged conductive surfaces. This force arises from the quantum vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field between the surfaces. The Casimir effect was first predicted by Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir in 1948 and has since been experimentally observed, providing a remarkable confirmation of quantum field theory. Key points about the Casimir force: Quantum vacuum fluctuations:...
nano
An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
nanotechnology
The use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and devices. The goal of this technology is to manipulate atomic and molecular particles to create devices that are thousands of times smaller and faster than those of the current microtechnologies.
photonics
The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
astronomyBasic ScienceBiophotonicsCasimir forcefrictiongeckolenseslevitationMEMSmicromachinerynanonanomachinesnanotechnologynanoworldNews & Featuresphotonicsquantum forcequantum physicsrepulsionThomas PhilbinUlf LeonhardtUniversity of St. Andrews

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