Horace,
I don't know if this would have any bearing on, or be any help with this
thought experiment you are working on, but there is a paper describing the
theorized energy density within various cavities, authored by the late Dr.
Robert Forward. I have it in PDF format if it would be helpful to you.
The title is Apparent Method for Extraction of Propulsion Energy from the
Vacuum, AIAA 98-3140.
The idea is that the zero point energy (whatever that actually is) within an
enclosed metal box of some dimensions has a certain energy density. For a box
of some dimensions, as given in the paper, you can have negative energy density
of a some value, as between two parallel metal plates. Here's where it starts
to get odd, in my opinion:
The paper concludes that for a box of dimensions 1x1x1 units, there is a net
positive energy density, and the Casimir force is now repulsive. For a box of
1x1x3.3, the net energy density is zero, and there is no Casimir force. It
seems therefore that if the box walls could be manipulated in a certain
way.........you get the drift.
I don't know if the paper is available online any more. If you want a copy,
I'll send it to you, or I can post it online.
I hope this helps in some way. Of course, as most everything else I post is
ignored, it might be prudent just to turn this into recycled electrons.
--Kyle
