The Casimir force between real materials: Experiment and theory

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Reviews of Modern Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/REVMODPHYS.81.1827· OSTI ID:22038476

Klimchitskaya, G L; Mohideen, U; Mostepanenko, V M ^[1]

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1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leipzig University, Postfach 100920, Leipzig D-04009 (Germany) and North-West Technical University, Millionnaya Street 5, St. Petersburg 191065 (Russian Federation)

The physical origin of the Casimir force is connected with the existence of zero-point and thermal fluctuations. The Casimir effect is very general and finds applications in various fields of physics. This review is limited to the rapid progress at the intersection of experiment and theory that has been achieved in the last few years. It includes a critical assessment of the proposed approaches to the resolution of the puzzles arising in the applications of the Lifshitz theory of the van der Waals and Casimir forces to real materials. All the primary experiments on the measurement of the Casimir force between macroscopic bodies and the Casimir-Polder force between an atom and a wall that have been performed in the last decade are reviewed, including the theory needed for their interpretation. The methodology for the comparison between experiment and theory in the force-distance measurements is presented. The experimental and theoretical results described here provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of dispersion forces in real materials and offer guidance for the application of the Lifshitz theory to the interpretation of the measurement results.

• OSTI ID: 22038476
• Journal Information: Reviews of Modern Physics, Journal Name: Reviews of Modern Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 81; ISSN 0034-6861; ISSN RMPHAT
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMS
CASIMIR EFFECT
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
RESOLUTION
VAN DER WAALS FORCES