- #1
arroy_0205
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I still do not understand the Casimir effect, more precisely what causes this. In the usual example of a parallel square plate kept very close to each other in vacuum, the plates feel an attractive force. This is a purely quantum field theoretic effect. My doubts are:
1. It is said that in vacuum there is no photon in between the plates but all the possible vibrational modes are present. We build an expression out of the quantities h, c and a (plate separation) but the amplitude of any wave do not occur since we are dealing with vacuum. I am not able connect vacuum fluctuation and vacuum polarization with this effect. Can anyone explain.
2. Why should only the electromagnetic field cause casimir effect? why not scalar/spinor/nonabelian gauge fields?
1. It is said that in vacuum there is no photon in between the plates but all the possible vibrational modes are present. We build an expression out of the quantities h, c and a (plate separation) but the amplitude of any wave do not occur since we are dealing with vacuum. I am not able connect vacuum fluctuation and vacuum polarization with this effect. Can anyone explain.
2. Why should only the electromagnetic field cause casimir effect? why not scalar/spinor/nonabelian gauge fields?