Nanoscale transfer of angular momentum mediated by the Casimir torque

Sanders, Steven; de Melo Kort-Kamp, Wilton Junior; Dalvit, Diego Alejandro Roberto; Manjavacas, Alejandro

doi:10.1038/s42005-019-0163-3

Nanoscale transfer of angular momentum mediated by the Casimir torque

Journal Article · Tue Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Communications Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-019-0163-3· OSTI ID:1544683

Sanders, Steven ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[1]

Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Casimir interactions play an important role in the dynamics of nanoscale objects. Here, we investigate the noncontact transfer of angular momentum at the nanoscale through the analysis of the Casimir torque acting on a chain of rotating nanoparticles. We show that this interaction, which arises from the vacuum and thermal fluctuations of the electromagnetic field, enables an efficient transfer of angular momentum between the elements of the chain. Working within the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics, we derive analytical expressions for the Casimir torque acting on each nanoparticle in the chain, which we use to study the synchronization of chains with different geometries and to predict unexpected dynamics, including a “rattleback”-like behavior. Our results provide insights into the Casimir torque and how it can be exploited to achieve efficient noncontact transfer of angular momentum at the nanoscale, and therefore have important implications for the control and manipulation of nanomechanical devices.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1544683

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--18-29153

Journal Information:: Communications Physics, Journal Name: Communications Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 2399-3650

Publisher:: Springer NatureCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Prethermalization and Nonreciprocal Phonon Transport in a Levitated Optomechanical Array Liu, Shengyan; Yin, Zhang‐qi; Li, Tongcang Advanced Quantum Technologies, Vol. 3, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/qute.201900099	journal	December 2019
Spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking in a Kramers two-level system Silveirinha, Mário G. Physical Review B, Vol. 100, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.100.165146	journal	October 2019
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Spontaneous Rotational Symmetry Breaking in a Kramers Two-Level System Silveirinha, Mario G. arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1910.07005	text	January 2019

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