On the origins of 1/f - noise and the dynamical Casimir effect

The dynamical Casimir effect in QED, which occurs for a frequency modulated electromagnetic oscillator, is described in terms of reflection backward in time of the oscillator mode. From an experimental point of view, backward in time reflections appear as radiated photons. We compute the frequency (f) distribution of the emitted EM radiation due to a modulated pulse and show that it exhibits a 1/f-singularity as f vanishes. We next consider other dynamical effects which arise due to (externally driven) periodic modulations of the frequency. This can lead to the production of sharply pulsed intense photon radiation. An example is given where radiation with frequencies considerably larger than the modulation frequency may develop and which may be detectable such as in sono-luminescence. (orig.)