Investigation of the asymmetric dynamical Casimir effect.

A mirror with time-dependent boundary conditions will interact with the quantum vacuum to produce real particles via a phenomenon called the dynamical Casimir effect (DCE). This dissertation seeks to investigate the consequences of introducing asymmetric boundary conditions on such a fluctuating mirror. We call the resulting phenomenon the asymmetric dynamical Casimir effect (ADCE). After reviewing the necessary background, we first identify the underlying conditions and general structure of the ADCE through both a waves-based and a particles-based perspective. We then construct new asymmetric solutions and explore the physical consequences of the ADCE, which arise from an asymmetry in the spectrum of particles produced on each side of the mirror. Next we explore an interference phenomena present when the asymmetric mirror is subjected to a combination of multiple time-dependent boundary conditions, and analyze how the motion of a mirror couples with its time-dependent material properties. Enhancement of the asymmetric particle production is then explored for a mirror with an arbitrary number of time-dependent fluctuation sources. Finally, we calculate the first- and second-order forces that arise due to both the motion and time-dependent properties of an asymmetric mirror.