Electromagnetic casimir effect

[robousy]

Typically the CE is introduced as an alteration of the vacuum expectation value of the EM field. Usually papers which calculate the force use this EM field model.

My question: The zero point energy should be a superposition of contributions from all field ground states, eg not just the EM field, but say, the Higgs field, the graviton etc.

Does anyone know why the EM field is usually picked. Is this one the main contribution to the vacuum perhaps??

 

[robousy]

A little more personal research and indeed, all fields do contribute, but the EM field is the major contribution!

 

[denian]

The Casimir effect is a well-studied phenomenon in quantum field theory that has been observed in various systems, including electromagnetic fields. It is indeed true that the Casimir effect is typically introduced as an alteration of the vacuum expectation value of the electromagnetic field. This is because the electromagnetic field is a fundamental force in nature and plays a significant role in many physical processes.

However, it is important to note that the Casimir effect is not solely dependent on the electromagnetic field. As you mentioned, there are other fields that contribute to the vacuum energy, such as the Higgs field and the graviton. In fact, the Casimir effect can also be observed in systems with other fields, such as the Yukawa field and the scalar field.

The reason why the electromagnetic field is often the focus in calculations of the Casimir effect is due to its strength and its important role in many physical systems. It is not necessarily the main contribution to the vacuum energy, but it is a significant factor that cannot be ignored.

In order to fully understand the Casimir effect, it is important to consider all the contributions from various fields and their interactions. Future research in this area may shed more light on the role of different fields in the Casimir effect and their relative contributions to the vacuum energy.