2026-10-04 — Estudo Geral (University of Coimbra repository)

Query (Google, in Chrome): Henriques "Study of Atomic Energy Shifts Induced by Casimir Cavities" Coimbra Page: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/handle/10316/28082 (http://hdl.handle.net/10316/28082). Read in Chrome. WebFetch failed with "too many redirects".

Record

• Henriques, Carlos Alberto de Oliveira, "Study of atomic energy shifts induced by Casimir cavities", MSc dissertation in Engineering Physics (Engenharia Física), FCTUC, University of Coimbra, September 2014. Supervisors: Luís Manuel Panchorrinha Fernandes and Fernando Domingues Amaro. Open access. File: ZPF_extraction_last.pdf (2.93 MB). Not downloaded this run. [web: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/handle/10316/28082]

Abstract (Portuguese, summarised in English) [web, same]

• The work starts from the SED premise that atomic levels are set by the zero-point field (ZPF), so atoms inside Casimir cavities may shift in their ground and excited states. Switching atoms between free space and cavities could emit radiation, with the ZPF restoring the atoms on exit. This is the Haisch-Moddel premise.
• Computation: numerical integration of the classical hydrogen electron orbit in the ZPF, both in free space and in a Casimir cavity. Henriques used an existing 2-D model and built his own 3-D model. He also estimated the hydrogen ground-state shift in a cavity using a harmonic-oscillator approximation.
• Experiment: a stainless-steel system passing gas through aluminium-coated nanoporous membranes (Casimir cavities), with two monochromators (one to irradiate the gas at a chosen wavelength) and a photomultiplier tube (PMT) for spectroscopy from 150 to 550 nm. Xe atoms passing through the membranes gave "algumas evidências de radiação" (some evidence of radiation), which the author says needs more careful study. When the Xe atoms were pre-excited, no emitted radiation could be distinguished from background noise. The author concludes the system was not sensitive enough at the desired wavelengths, mainly because of the PMT.

Bearing on claims

• This is the only independent (non-Jovion) experimental attempt found so far on claim 1 (the Casimir-Lamb shift on cavity entry). It used UV/visible spectroscopy rather than the infrared pyroelectric detection of the Colorado work. Result: weak hints with excited Xe passing through membranes, none above noise with pre-excited Xe, and limited by detector sensitivity. Moddel and Dmitriyeva (2019) summarise it as "He was not able to detect any emitted radiation, but the reason might have been due to poor sensitivity in the detector." Their summary is more negative than the thesis abstract's "some evidence". Both are recorded here.
• Its 2-D and 3-D SED hydrogen simulations in a cavity bear on claim 3. Lead: download and read the thesis (computational chapter and results).