Casimir effect Definition and 103 Threads

In quantum field theory, the Casimir effect is a physical force acting on the macroscopic boundaries of a confined space which arises from the quantum fluctuations of the field. It is named after the Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir, who predicted the effect for electromagnetic systems in 1948.
In the same year, Casimir together with Dirk Polder described a similar effect experienced by a neutral atom in the vicinity of a macroscopic interface which is referred to as Casimir–Polder force. Their result is a generalization of the London–van der Waals force and includes retardation due to the finite speed of light. Since the fundamental principles leading to the London–van der Waals force, the Casimir and the Casimir–Polder force, respectively, can be formulated on the same footing, the distinction in nomenclature nowadays serves a historical purpose mostly and usually refers to the different physical setups.
It was not until 1997 that a direct experiment by S. Lamoreaux quantitatively measured the Casimir force to within 5% of the value predicted by the theory.The Casimir effect can be understood by the idea that the presence of macroscopic material interfaces, such as conducting metals and dielectrics, alters the vacuum expectation value of the energy of the second-quantized electromagnetic field. Since the value of this energy depends on the shapes and positions of the materials, the Casimir effect manifests itself as a force between such objects.
Any medium supporting oscillations has an analogue of the Casimir effect. For example, beads on a string as well as plates submerged in turbulent water or gas illustrate the Casimir force.
In modern theoretical physics, the Casimir effect plays an important role in the chiral bag model of the nucleon; in applied physics it is significant in some aspects of emerging microtechnologies and nanotechnologies.

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  1. .Scott

    I Black Hole Fire Walls, Brick Walls, and the Casimir Effect

    At the heart of this posting is the questions raised in this Nature article on the nature of death for BH visitors. (I'll call that visitor "Alice".) Physics is still struggling with this question - and so am I. Until recently, I was very impressed with the Equivalence Principle which confers...
  2. S

    I The dispersion interaction and Casimir effect

    When quantum chemistry computations are performed, different methods are used. Among the most popular are the density functional theory (DFT) methods. And it is known that the DFT approach usually underestimates the dispersion interaction, and to solve this problem, often empirical dispersion...
  3. peterbb

    A In light of new evidence, what might be behind the Casimir Effect?

    (note to mod: I changed the journal to a more reputable one that should fit the rules - please check if it's approved for you - thanks!) Preface Some of you may know this but a little while ago Garret Moddel, a professor at Boulder Colorado University, published a paper that described an...
  4. hyksos

    I Exploring the Casimir Effect: The Archimedes Experiment

    Vacuum energy is predicted by Quantum Field Theory, and also independently corroborated by recent observations in cosmology involving accelerated expansion. More corroboration occurs in superconducting cuprates exhibiting quantum criticality, and in the Casimir effect The island of Sardinia...
  5. nomadreid

    "Heuristics" for Casimir: how close to reality do they have to be?

    According to the dictionary, a "heuristic" is a tool to allow someone to figure out on her own the full explanation. If I say that explanation A is a heuristic for a complicated concept B, shouldn't B be at least a close, even if incorrect, explanation? Specifically, I have read (sorry about...
  6. D

    I The Casimir effect and Quantum vacuum fluctuations

    The Casimir effect is a small attractive force that acts between two close parallel uncharged conducting plates. That force is caused by quantum vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. What is the cause of the fluctuations? Or, they are uncaused (random)? At least, what are the...
  7. R

    I Is this correct? Casimir Effect

    "In the example of Fig. 1, Maxwell’s equations allow field modes of arbitrarily large frequency both between the plates and outside them, and therefore the zero-point field energy is infinite when the plates are separated by a finite distance d as well as when they are infinitely far apart...
  8. Ebi Rogha

    I Vacuum energy and Energy conservation

    Also, I have heard from physicists that vacuum energy fluctuation (creation and destruction of virtual particles) violates energy conservation. The reason, they justify, is based on uncertainty principle (energy-time form of uncertainty principle), energy can exist and disappear for a very short...
  9. R

    Good English or German Sources for the Casimir Effect?

    Summary:: Any good english or german sources for Casimir effect, quantum fluctuations or zero point energy Hello, fellow quantum physicists I am currently writing a detailed physics script for my quantum physics project and I wanted to ask if you know some good internet sources on the theme of...
  10. Giovanni Cambria

    A Is this solution for interstellar travel viable?

    I have in mind a way to enable FTL travel. Is this way viable? In the paper: "Weighing the vacuum with the Archimedes experiment" we can see the dependency of the gravitational repulsion exerted by Casimir Vacuum on the energy between the plates. The force goes as E / c^2. In the papers...
  11. G

    Casimir Effect experiment and implications on motion theory

    Quantum mechanics has argued for years that space is not a vacuum. Arguments attempting to brush aside quantum mechanics vacuum theory claiming, it's 'just a quantum mathematical theory' can now put to rest. In this article, laboratory experimentation demonstrates that the Casimir Effect can...
  12. J

    I Vacuum energy length scale detectable by the Casimir effect?

    According to Sean Carroll's The Cosmological constant(https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0004075.pdf) (Eqn.20) cosmological observations imply that the magnitude of the vacuum energy density in natural units is given by $$|\rho^{(obs)}_\Lambda|\le (10^{-12}\ \rm{GeV})^4.$$ Does this imply that the...
  13. S

    Casimir effect with Gaussian regulator

    Homework Statement Calculate the Casimir force in 1D using a Gaussian regulator. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I reached a point where I need to evaluate a sum of the form $$\sum_n n e^{-\epsilon^2n^2}$$ Can someone help me? I didn't really find anything useful online. I thought...
  14. J

    I Dynamical Casmir Effect in expanding space?

    The Dynamical Casimir Effect is the production of real photons from the vacuum in a system where one has moving mirrors (see https://www.technologyreview.com/s/424111/first-observation-of-the-dynamical-casimir-effect/). The frequency of the photons is related to the ratio of the velocity v of...
  15. E

    Casimir effect in 1+1 Minkowski spacetime

    Homework Statement https://i.imgur.com/sI3JiB4.jpg https://i.imgur.com/PLpnPZw.jpg I have no idea how to solve the first question about the vacuum energy. I solved the second and third problems, but I'm hopelessly stuck at the first. 2. Homework Equations The Hamiltonian can be written as...
  16. H

    Particle accelerators and Casimir effect

    So I have read that particle that move near the speed of light can separate virtual particle for there anti-particle counter-part creating a new particle from the energy put in, but would this effect happen in particle accelerators like the large hadron collider, sorry if I am misinterpreting...
  17. nomadreid

    I CMB and the reference point for vacuum energy

    From the basic definition of vacuum energy as being tied in with the Uncertainty principle, I would expect this not to include the Cosmic Background Radiation. Right? On the other hand, in figuring out (a) the Casimir effect, one attributes the force to the field between the plates carrying...
  18. C

    I In the Casimir effect, can you slide plates unopposed by force?

    How would sliding the plates parallel to each other in order to separate them (they are prevented from contacting to avoid friction) require the same amount of energy as pulling them apart? You're not pushing against the force (the net force at the edges pulling it back is balanced by opposite...
  19. G

    B Casimir effect, energy conservation

    I was reading some articles about Casimir effect. It turns out that some virtual particles are created and suddenly disappears amd that these particles can exert a pressure on the plates. It seems that this creation breaks energy conservation law, but it cannot be.I would like to know which...
  20. B

    Making mirrors parallel in a vacuum using charge

    Two identical front surface mirrors are hung in a vacuum chamber with a high vacuum with a bit of bias of their mass wanting to lean into each other so they don't separate on their own. The metal surface is connected to a variable high voltage source. Both mirrors are connected to the same...
  21. G

    Schools Schools for studying the Casimir Effect?

    What would be a good school/s for studying the Casimir Effect at?
  22. G

    I Open or closed Casimir system?

    If you had the Casimir effect pushing two plates together, would that be an open or closed system? And why? I haven't been able to find a satisfying answer/explanation to that.
  23. S

    A Casimir effect and dimensional analysis

    How can you use dimensional analysis to estimate the force between two plates, as a function of the area of the plates and their separation?
  24. M

    Temporary magnetization of Casimir effect plates?

    Have any experiments on the Casimir effect tried what happens if the plates are temporarily magnetized when they are pulled together by the effect? E.g. measurements of what happens to passing laser beams and the like?
  25. A

    I Casimir effect and vacuum energy and a bit of relativity....

    Hi all, Silly question perhaps: I had understood that the energy density of the vacuum is constant throughout spacetime. But, with the Casimir effect, for example, the geometry of (real) matter (i.e., parallel plates), changes the vacuum energy density in between the plates - is this correct...
  26. B

    B Is it possible to create macroscopic Casimir effect?

    Hello. I read a lot about Casimir Effect. It creates attractive (or repulsive)force between two metal, parallel, electrically neutral, conducting plates. It causes that between plates, it is less electromagnetic field fluctuation wavelength than outside (vacuum). Logic tells me that if vacuum...
  27. B

    Casimir Effect as a power source

    Would it be possible to create energy or a power source using plates that are connected in a way that when two plates are close enough the casimir effect would pull them together while also pulling two other plates apart which in turn would create a casimir effect and pulling those plates...
  28. KarminValso1724

    B Has the Casimir effect been directly observed?

    It seems to me that you would have to place two plates so close together and perfectly parallel for the effect to be visible. Correct me if I am wrong.
  29. N

    Why does gravity not explain the Casimir Effect?

    Please explain how the gravitational effects are accounted for in the Casimir Effect? At a basic level, I want to understand why the quantum vacuum fluctuations in the electromagnetic field are the cause of the attractive force rather than gravity.
  30. P

    The Casimir Effect Limit: Exploring Its Relevance

    I was thinking recently about the Casimir Effect and at what distance does the effect become negligible? Is there any relevance on the surface area (or difference in areas) between the plates (I personally held the opposite, that any point can be considered to have equivalent pressure as any...
  31. Adam LeTrexane

    A Addresses of Parallel Universes

    Hi there! Alright, so let me start off by saying I'm a biochemist by trade, but have an extreme (and possibly unhealthy) interest in the more bizarre aspects of modern physics. Admittedly, I don't understand the mathematical formalisms associated with the theories I know of, so bear with me if...
  32. M

    How to Calculate Casimir Force with Dielectric Vacuum Between Metal Plates?

    Hi. I want to ask how to calculate the Casimir force. when we have two metal platne100 nm apart and between dielectric vacuum instead? Thank.
  33. H

    Vacuum fluctions and the Casimir Effect

    I don't recall where I saw this...but the author said that the Casimir effect experimentally proved that vacuum fluctuations exist. Does the Casimir effect really prove that or is it consistent with vacuum fluctuations? Thanks for any comments you care to make.
  34. M

    Where can I get Casimir plates?

    Where can I find actual Casimir plates? To buy or hire for experiments, I mean. If so, what do they cost?
  35. Quarlep

    Casimir Effect and Calculate Energy Density of it

    All we know that space creates particle pairs,virtual particles,they make a pressure and we call it casimir effect.I want to ask in universe Is there such a way to calculate How many particles created per volume per second.Or calculate energy density ? Thanks
  36. dbmorpher

    Is Reflective Fiction a Potential Problem for Starships at High Speeds?

    While the main problems of a functioning starship are commonly known such as energy requirements and radiation I have realized another problem when near the speed of light. The dynamic Casimir effect occurs when a reflecting object reaches relativistic velocities. Therefore a starship with a...
  37. G

    Can Different Dielectric Values Affect the Distribution of the Casimir Force?

    So I was reading an excerpt from Lifshitz about the Casimir effect, and besides the obvious dependency on plate separation and geometry, he indicated that the strength of the force also depends on the dielectric value of the plates. What I'm wondering is what the force distribution for the...
  38. R

    Is anyone here familiar with the dynamical Casimir effect?

    Just wondering if anyone here is familiar with the dynamical Casimir effect? It's part of my dissertation and have a couple of questions. I've read that the photons produced are "always pair-produced from the vacuum in two-mode squeezed states, not in coherent states." Since only one photon is...
  39. N

    Casimir Effect Force in a Collapsing Sphere

    I know that the Casimir Effect Force is calculated by the equation F=(π h c A) / 480 L4. However, how can you calculated the Casimir Force if there is for example, a bubble. If there is a sphere how can you calculate the force because I don't know what the area would be or how to find it.
  40. 2

    Help with deriving the Casimir Effect?

    I am at the very last part of a relatively long derivation of the Casimir effect, and I just don't understand the final step D: So far, I have derived the ground state energy to be \langle 0| \hat{H} |0\rangle = \delta (0) \int _{-\infty}^{\infty} dp \frac{1}{2} E And for a massless field...
  41. M

    Interpreting Casimir Effect along with Hawking's Radiation

    I currently watched a video on youtube about Casimir effect and here's the link The professor in the video talks about Casimir effect and Hawking's black hole radiation While talking about black hole radiation, he says that mass of black hole decreases if some particle or antiparticle loses...
  42. ubergewehr273

    The Casimir Effect: Explaining Exotic Matter

    What is exactly the Casimir effect ? What is the idea of exotic matter ?
  43. Spinnor

    Vacuum port in optics, Casimir effect, fluctuations of vacuum or electrons.

    The force in the Casimir effect can be "explained" by two causes, see, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect#Possible_causes In some optics experiments we must account for the fluctuations of the quantum vacuum to get the right experimental results. See, Vacuum noise...
  44. Spinnor

    Casimir effect excludes photon modes*, same for two slit interferometer?

    Can we say that a point light source (turned off) together with a two slit interferometer and say a photographic plate detector exclude certain photon modes? Light does not go to certain parts of the photographic plate so can we say that the source (turned off), the interferometer, and the...
  45. spacecadet11

    Is There Absolute Proof of the Casimir Effect and Inflation Theories?

    Hello. Is there absolute testifiable proof that these theories are true or correct? Can someone for example tell me what a 'quantum fluctuation' is? Is this what can happen in the 'pure' vacuum of outer-space? Does it also not make sense at all to think of the concept of space as a 'pure...
  46. E

    Casimir Effect, what does (x,θ) mean?

    Hello look at (3.24). Above it, it states "We make the same switch to polar coordinates (x, φ) in the (x, y) plane, and substitute y ≡ (ax/nπ):" Should (x, φ) be (r, φ)? Is this a typo? Thank you. http://aphyr.com/data/journals/113/comps.pdf
  47. E

    What is the wave equation for the Casimir Effect and how was it derived?

    Hello, I am looking at the wave equation for the casimir effect and I was hoping if some could tell me what type of what equation is it and what techinque is used to derive it. The wave equation can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect Thank you
  48. J

    Exploring Casimir Effect between Bolt Threads of 10nm Distance

    Hi. Will operate Casimir effect between the bolt threads? The distance between the threads is 10 nm. Thank By.
  49. J

    Dynamic Casimir Effect: Questions Answered

    Good day. I want to ask for such a thing: If I put in a vacuum photon pulsed laser with a wavelength of 10 nm and against Casimir cavity of two metal plates with a gap of 10 nm. From the laser pulse will shoot photons in the cavity. Occurs dynamic Casimir effect? Thank you. Goodbye.
  50. E

    Coordinates and casimir effect

    Hello, I am reading this paper on the casimir effect and I am failing to understand where the 1/(2âˆ)^2 comes in and how the polar coordinates are converted to Cartesian. The equations are (3.23) and (3.24). http://aphyr.com/data/journals/113/comps.pdf Thank you!
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