Taming 'quantum gunge'to build low-power nanomachines

摘要

A new technique that exploits the Casimir effect - a strange quantum phenomenon that gums up nanoelectromechanical systems -may pave the way for a switch that could cut the power consumption of nanoscale gadgets.rnThe Casimir effect is a force that tries to push together conducting plates held within a few micrometres of each other. It arises because of the quantum electromagnetic fluctuations that occur in a vacuum.