Casimir-cavity-induced conductance changes

Abstract

The differential conductance of metal-insulator-metal devices increases when they are joined with Casimir cavities. An imbalance in injection of hot charge carriers from each side of the insulator is increased with thinner cavities that suppress more quantum vacuum modes. The result is an observed increase in conductance. Additional conductance changes, with insulator thickness and other device parameters, are consistent with an imbalance-induced injection of hot carriers. In addition to the conductance changes, we observe anomalous offsets in the current and voltage. We interpret the conductance changes in terms of a ΔEΔt uncertainty-principle-like limit to the injection of hot carriers from zero-point fluctuations.