Stable suspension and dispersion-induced transitions from repulsive Casimir forces between fluid separated eccentric cylinders

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Physical Review Letters

OSTI ID:957783

Dalvit, Diego A1 ^[1]; Rodriguez, Alejandro W ^[2]; Munday, J N ^[3]; Joannopoulos, J D ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. MASS INST OF TECH
3. HARVARD UNIV

Using accurate numerical methods for finite-size nonplanar objects, we demonstrate a stable mechanical suspension of a silica cylinder within a metallic cylinder separated by ethanol, via a repulsive Casimir force between the silica and the metal. We investigate cylinders with both circular and square cross sections, and show that the latter exhibit a stable orientation as well as a stable position, employing a new method to accurately compute Casimir torques for finite objects. Furthermore, the stable orientation of the square cylinder is shown to undergo an unusual 45 transition as a function of the separation lengthscale, and this transition is explained as a consequence of material dispersion.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 957783
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-08-04615; LA-UR-08-4615; PRLTAO; TRN: US201016%%183
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CASIMIR EFFECT
CROSS SECTIONS
ETHANOL
ORIENTATION
SILICA