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Title: Casimir forces in the time domain: Theory

Abstract

We present a method to compute Casimir forces in arbitrary geometries and for arbitrary materials based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme. The method involves the time evolution of electric and magnetic fields in response to a set of current sources, in a modified medium with frequency-independent conductivity. The advantage of this approach is that it allows one to exploit existing FDTD software, without modification, to compute Casimir forces. In this paper, we focus on the derivation, implementation choices, and essential properties of the time-domain algorithm, both considered analytically and illustrated in the simplest parallel-plate geometry.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
  2. Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21313209
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. A
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 80; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.012115; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; ALGORITHMS; CASIMIR EFFECT; COMPUTER CODES; ELECTRIC FIELDS; EVOLUTION; GEOMETRY; MAGNETIC FIELDS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS

Citation Formats

Rodriguez, Alejandro W, McCauley, Alexander P, Joannopoulos, John D, and Johnson, Steven G. Casimir forces in the time domain: Theory. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVA.80.012115.
Rodriguez, Alejandro W, McCauley, Alexander P, Joannopoulos, John D, & Johnson, Steven G. Casimir forces in the time domain: Theory. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.80.012115
Rodriguez, Alejandro W, McCauley, Alexander P, Joannopoulos, John D, and Johnson, Steven G. 2009. "Casimir forces in the time domain: Theory". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.80.012115.
@article{osti_21313209,
title = {Casimir forces in the time domain: Theory},
author = {Rodriguez, Alejandro W and McCauley, Alexander P and Joannopoulos, John D and Johnson, Steven G},
abstractNote = {We present a method to compute Casimir forces in arbitrary geometries and for arbitrary materials based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme. The method involves the time evolution of electric and magnetic fields in response to a set of current sources, in a modified medium with frequency-independent conductivity. The advantage of this approach is that it allows one to exploit existing FDTD software, without modification, to compute Casimir forces. In this paper, we focus on the derivation, implementation choices, and essential properties of the time-domain algorithm, both considered analytically and illustrated in the simplest parallel-plate geometry.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVA.80.012115},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21313209}, journal = {Physical Review. A},
issn = {1050-2947},
number = 1,
volume = 80,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}