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Title: Controlling the Casimir force via the electromagnetic properties of materials

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
;  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 (China)
  2. Department of Physics, Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)
  3. Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (United States)

The control of the Casimir force between two parallel plates can be achieved through adjusting the frequency-dependent electromagnetic properties of materials of the two plates. We show that, for different plate separations, the main contribution to the Casimir force comes from different frequency regions: For smaller (larger) separation, it comes from the higher (lower) frequency region. When the separation of the plates increases, the Casimir force can vary from attractive to repulsive and/or vice versa, by selecting the two plates with suitable electromagnetic properties. We discuss how a restoring Casimir force, which varies from repulsive to attractive by increasing the separation, can be realized and that the stable equilibrium is formed at zero Casimir force.

OSTI ID:
21431014
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Vol. 81, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.81.022114; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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