In some embodiments, the illustrative method defines an engine cycle comprising
several state changes that allow for a net gain of energy from an underlying source
force field. The potential for a net energy gain via the method results from the
discovery that a Casimir force system can be rendered non-conservative. This is
done by appropriately altering one or more of a variety of physical factors that
affect the Casimir force, or by altering any of a variety of environmental factors
that affect such physical factors. In various embodiments, the extracted energy
is stored, used to power energy-consuming devices or used to actuate a micromechanical
device. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using an energy extraction
apparatus that comprises two spaced Casimir force-generating boundaries that are
operatively coupled to an energy transformation system. The energy transformation
system includes a first device that is operable to alter at least one physical
factor of the system. The energy transformation system also includes a second device
that is operable to change the distance between the two Casimir force-generating
boundaries, and further operable to maintain the distance between the boundaries
while the first device alters the physical factor.
