Casimir effect for a stack of graphene sheets

Abstract

We consider a stack of parallel sheets composed of conducting planes with tensorial conductivities. Using the scattering matrix approach, we derive explicit formulas for the Casimir energy of two, three, and four planes as well as a recurrence relation for arbitrary planes. Specifically, for a stack of graphene, we solve the recurrence relations and obtain formulas for the Casimir energy and force acting on the planes within the stack. Moreover, we calculate the binding energy in the graphene stack with graphite interplane separation, which amounts to ${E}_{ib}=9.9$ meV/atom. Notably, the Casimir force on graphene sheets decreases rapidly for planes beyond the first one. For the second graphene layer in the stack, the force is 35 times smaller than that experienced by the first layer.