Exploring the Casimir Effect: Electromagnetic & Beyond

In summary, the Casimir effect is an attractive force between two parallel plates when placed in a vacuum due to the exclusion of electromagnetic waves and particles that need a certain amount of space to exist. This effect is stronger with electromagnetic fields compared to other types of fields. While it may not have practical applications at the moment, it is a measurable physical effect with potential implications in various fields such as string theory and nanotechnology. However, it is not possible to use the Casimir effect as a continuous source of energy as the energy gained is equal to the energy put in to configure the plates.
  • #1
arroy_0205
129
0
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?
 
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  • #2
The vacuum is awash with electromagnetic waves and various particles, from all sorts of sources, stars etc. In addition it has a high level of energy from the em and particle pairs that pop in and out from the vacuum energy, only constrained by the pairing of energy and time in the uncertainty relationship.
If you put two plates close together it inhibits those waves and particles, both real and virtual, that need at least a half-wave space to exist. The closer you put them, the more waves etc are excluded.
Thus there's more energy outside than inside. The difference shows as a force pushing the plates together.
 
  • #3
So can we apply casimir force to anything or is it a useless 'nice to know' thing?
 
  • #4
arroy_0205 said:
2. Why should only the electromagnetic field cause casimir effect? why not scalar/spinor/nonabelian gauge fields?

by all means, they do! but the EM casimir is MUCH stronger, and therefore measurable.


Denton said:
So can we apply casimir force to anything or is it a useless 'nice to know' thing?

Well, one might say that everything is "useless" - so I'm not sure how to take that!

We won't be building bridges with Casimir cranes anytime soon! Nor will we by flying to Mars in a Casimir-powered engine! But it is a physical effect, and it can be measured, and it might have something to do with things like the cosmological constant or stabilization of extra dimensions in string theory, or it might be important for nanotech devices, or who knows what else.

So sure, it's "useful".

Unless you couldn't care less about such things...
 
  • #5
We should consider how to get energy out of the vacuum in a usable form. Casimir plates are a 'one shot' source of energy - now, how to make that a continuous source.
 
  • #6
map19 said:
We should consider how to get energy out of the vacuum in a usable form. Casimir plates are a 'one shot' source of energy - now, how to make that a continuous source.

You can't. The energy you "get out" of the Casimir effect was put in when you configured the plates. It's ordinary potential energy, nothing more, nothing less. You can't get any more energy out than you put in.
 

What is the Casimir Effect?

The Casimir Effect is a physical phenomenon in which two uncharged, parallel plates are attracted to each other in a vacuum due to quantum fluctuations in the electromagnetic field. This effect was first predicted by Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir in 1948.

How is the Casimir Effect related to electromagnetism?

The Casimir Effect is a manifestation of the quantum nature of the electromagnetic field. It occurs due to the zero-point energy of the field, which is the minimum energy that remains even at absolute zero temperature. This energy causes virtual particles to continually pop in and out of existence, creating a force between the plates.

What are the practical applications of the Casimir Effect?

Although the Casimir Effect was initially a theoretical concept, it has since been observed and measured in various experiments. It has potential applications in nanotechnology, where it could be used to control the spacing between small-scale objects. It also has implications for the development of new materials and technologies in the field of quantum mechanics.

How is the Casimir Effect related to vacuum energy?

The Casimir Effect is one manifestation of vacuum energy, which is the energy present in a vacuum due to quantum fluctuations. The Casimir Effect is a result of the zero-point energy of the electromagnetic field, which is a form of vacuum energy.

What are the current research efforts in exploring the Casimir Effect?

Scientists continue to study the Casimir Effect in various ways, including exploring its applications in nanotechnology and investigating its effects on different types of materials. Some researchers are also attempting to manipulate the Casimir force to create new technologies, such as quantum levitation devices. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to better understand the fundamental physics behind the Casimir Effect and its relationship to other phenomena in quantum mechanics.

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