Computation and Visualization of Casimir Forces in Arbitrary Geometries: Nonmonotonic Lateral-Wall Forces and the Failure of Proximity-Force Approximations

Journal Article · Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.080401· OSTI ID:21028152

Rodriguez, Alejandro; Ibanescu, Mihai; Joannopoulos, J D; Johnson, Steven G ^[1]; Iannuzzi, Davide ^[2]; Capasso, Federico ^[3]

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1. Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
2. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands)
3. Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

We present a method of computing Casimir forces for arbitrary geometries, with any desired accuracy, that can directly exploit the efficiency of standard numerical-electromagnetism techniques. Using the simplest possible finite-difference implementation of this approach, we obtain both agreement with past results for cylinder-plate geometries, and also present results for new geometries. In particular, we examine a pistonlike problem involving two dielectric and metallic squares sliding between two metallic walls, in two and three dimensions, respectively, and demonstrate nonadditive and nonmonotonic changes in the force due to these lateral walls.

• OSTI ID: 21028152
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.080401; (c) 2007 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
ACCURACY
APPROXIMATIONS
CASIMIR EFFECT
CYLINDERS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
FAILURES
GEOMETRY
PLATES
WALLS