Towards weighing the condensation energy to ascertain the Archimedes force of vacuum

We discuss the force exerted by the gravitational field on a Casimir cavity in terms of Archimedes’ force of vacuum, we identify the force that can be tested against observation and we show that the present technology makes it possible to perform the first experimental tests. We motivate the use of suitable high-Tc superconductors as modulators of Archimedes’ force. We analyze the possibility of using gravitational wave interferometers as detectors of the force, transported through an optical spring from the Archimedes vacuum force apparatus to the gravitational interferometers test masses to maintain the two systems well separated. We also analyze the use of balances to actuate and detect the force, we compare different solutions and discuss the most important experimental issues. PACS numbers: 04.80.Cc E-mail: enrico.calloni@na.infn.it E-mail: martina.delaurentis@na.infn.it E-mail: rosario.derosa@na.infn.it E-mail:fabio.garufi@na.infn.it E-mail: luigi.rosa@na.infn.it E-mail: giampiero.esposito@na.infn.it E-mail: rovelli@cpt.univ-mrs.fr E-mail: ruggi@ego-gw.it E-mail: francesco.tafuri@na.infn.it

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