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Casimir
Patron Saint of Poland
and Lithuania (March 4th)
Hendrik Casimir (1909-2000)
Dutch theoretical physicist
Predicted the force from
nowhere in 1948
Abstract
The Casimir Force was first predicted by Dutch theoretical physicist Hendrik
Casimir and was first effectively measured by Steve Lamoreaux in 1995.
The boundary conditions imposed on the electromagnetic fields by metallic
surfaces lead to a spatial redistribution of the zero-point energy mode density
with respect to free space, creating a spatial gradient of the zero-point energy
density and hence a net force between the metals. That force is the most
significant force between neutral objects for distances <100nm
Because of that dependence on boundary conditions, the Casimir Force
spatial dependence and sign can be controlled by tailoring the shape of the
interacting surfaces.
In this presentation I briefly review the formalism pertaining to the zero point
energy and summarize the recent experiment By Bell and Lucent labs,
investigating the effect of the Casimir Force on a dynamic system.
Then
1
* i ( k .r t ) *
i ( k . r t )
( r , t )
(C e
C e
)
V
1
i ( k .r )
*
i ( k .r ) *
( r , t )
(C (t )e
C (t )e
)
V
2
1
1
2
2
V ( E 2 B 2 )dV Substitute
{|
Re[
C
(
t
)]
|
|
Im[
C
(
t
)]
|
}
2
8
2 c
p
m q
2m
2
Note:
pm
Re scale: p m P , q
1
Q
m
SHO
2
(Q P 2 )
2
dq
dQ
P
then Q(t ) o cos(t ), P (t ) o sin(t )
dt
dt
Re[C (t )] Q(t )
Im[C (t )] P (t )
c 2
C (t )
(Q iP)
2
(Q P 2 )
2
E &M
Eigenstates |n>
Eigenvalues En = (n+1/2)
In particular Eo= /2 0 for mode
However
/ 2
c A
F
480 d 4
A 1cm 2 , d 1m F 10-7 N or Pressure 10-3 Pascal
d 10nm Pressure 105 Pacal 1atm
Strongest force between two neutral objects (d 10nm)
Notes
Casimir Force
From theory to experiment
Steve Lamoreaux
(University of
Washington
Seattle)
Measured the
Casimir force
between a 4 cm
diameter spherical
lens and an optical
quartz plate about
2.5 cm across, both
coated with copper
and gold. The lens
and plate were
connected to a
torsion pendulum.
Effects of edges
ref:http://images.google.com/imgres?
imgurl=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/yr4pasr/project/casimir/currentthumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/yr4pasr/project/casimir/&h=275&w=275&sz=41&tbnid=Buy2QDUNZEvi6M:&tbnh=109&tbnw=109&hl=en&start=20&prev=/ima
ges%3Fq%3Dcasimir%2Beffect%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG
Mock set up
K= 0.019 Nm-1
Sphere radius = 100m
dEQUILIBRIUM = 40nm
c A to
3 c R
F
F
480 d 4
360 d 3
Equation of motion
b
2
2 [o F ( z )] cos t 2 3
I
3
c R
F ( z )
z1 dist ance of closest approach
120(z z1 ) 4
k
, damping coef
I
amplitude of driving torque
b 3 FC
b 4 FC
,
2I
6I
Due to FC
Due to Electrostatic force
FC anharmonic behavior
FC
]
2
2 I0
2
] 2 2
4 I 1
2
3
5
Depends on history
Freq < resonant freq
Plate-plate: attractive
Sphere-plate: attractive
Concave surface concave surface: can be
repulsive or attractive depending on separation
pendulum
Plate-plate with specific dielectric properties
can be repulsive nanotech applications
References