Anomalous Temperature Dependence of the Casimir Force for Thin Metal Films

Journal Article · Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.096803· OSTI ID:21134180

Yampol'skii, V A; Savel'ev, Sergey; Mayselis, Z A; Apostolov, S S; Nori, Franco ^[1]

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1. Advanced Science Institute, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198 (Japan)

Within the framework of the Drude dispersive model, we predict an unusual nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the Casimir force for thin metal films. For certain conditions, this force decreases with temperature due to the decrease of the metallic conductivity, whereas the force increases at high temperatures due to the increase of the thermal radiation pressure. We consider the attraction of a film to: either (i) a bulk ideal metal with a planar boundary, or (ii) a bulk metal sphere (lens). The experimental observation of the predicted decreasing temperature dependence of the Casimir force can put an end to the long-standing discussion on the role of the electron relaxation in the Casimir effect.

• OSTI ID: 21134180
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 101, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.096803; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CASIMIR EFFECT
ELECTRONS
FILMS
METALS
SPHERES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL RADIATION