Electromagnetic Casimir Energy Research Articles

Axion electrodynamics: Green’s functions, zero-point energy and optical activity

Starting from the theory of Axion Electrodynamics, we work out the axionic modifications to the electromagnetic Casimir energy using the Green’s function method, both when the axion field is initially assumed purely time-dependent and when the axion field configuration is a static domain wall, so purely space-dependent. For the first case it means that the oscillating axion background is taken to resemble an axion fluid at rest in a conventional Casimir setup with two infinite parallel conducting plates, while in the second case we evaluate the radiation pressure acting on an axion domain wall. We extend previous theories in order to include finite temperatures. Various applications are discussed. (i) We review the theory of Axion Electrodynamics and particularly the energy–momentum conservation in a linear dielectric and magnetic material. We treat this last aspect by extending former results by Brevik and Chaichian (2022) and Patkos (2022). (ii) Adopting the model of the oscillating axion background we discuss the axion-induced modifications to the Casimir force between two parallel plates by using the Green’s function method. (iii) We calculate the radiation pressure acting on an axion domain wall at finite temperature T. Our results for an oscillating axion field and a domain wall are also useful for condensed matter physics, where some topological materials, “axionic topological insulators”, interact with the electromagnetic field with a Chern–Simons interaction, like the one in Axion Electrodynamics, and there are experimental systems analogous to time-dependent axion fields and domain walls as the ones showed e.g. by Jiang and Wilczek (2019) and Fukushima et al. (2019). (iv) We compare our results, where we assume time-dependent or space-dependent axion configurations, with the discussion of the optical activity of Axion Electrodynamics by Sikivie (2021) and Carrol et al. (1990). We also make comparisons with the properties of known materials, such as optically active, chiral media and the Faraday effect.

Electromagnetic Casimir energy of a disk opposite a plane

Building on work of Meixner [J. Meixner, Z. Naturforschung 3a, 506 (1948)], we show how to compute the exact scattering amplitude (or $T$-matrix) for electromagnetic scattering from a perfectly conducting disk. This calculation is a rare example of a non-diagonal $T$-matrix that can nonetheless be obtained in a semi-analytic form. We then use this result to compute the electromagnetic Casimir interaction energy for a disk opposite a plane, for arbitrary orientation angle of the disk, for separations greater than the disk radius. We find that the proximity force approximation (PFA) significantly overestimates the Casimir energy, both in the case of the ordinary PFA, which applies when the disk is parallel to the plane, and the "edge PFA," which applies when the disk is perpendicular to the plane.

A Generalization of Electromagnetic Fluctuation-Induced Casimir Energy

Intermolecular forces responsible for adhesion and cohesion can be classified according to their origins; interactions between charges, ions, random dipole—random dipole (Keesom), random dipole—induced dipole (Debye) are due to electrostatic effects; covalent bonding, London dispersion forces between fluctuating dipoles, and Lewis acid-base interactions are due to quantum mechanical effects; pressure and osmotic forces are of entropic origin. Of all these interactions, the London dispersion interaction is universal and exists between all types of atoms as well as macroscopic objects. The dispersion force between macroscopic objects is called Casimir/van der Waals force. It results from alteration of the quantum and thermal fluctuations of the electrodynamic field due to the presence of interfaces and plays a significant role in the interaction between macroscopic objects at micrometer and nanometer length scales. This paper discusses how fluctuational electrodynamics can be used to determine the Casimir energy/pressure between planar multilayer objects. Though it is confirmation of the famous work of Dzyaloshinskii, Lifshitz, and Pitaevskii (DLP), we have solved the problem without having to use methods from quantum field theory that DLP resorted to. Because of this new approach, we have been able to clarify the contributions of propagating and evanescent waves to Casimir energy/pressure in dissipative media.

Derivative expansion of the electromagnetic Casimir energy for two thin mirrors

We extend our previous work on a derivative expansion for the Casimir energy, to the case of the electromagnetic field coupled to two thin, imperfect mirrors. The latter are described by means of vacuum polarization tensors localized on the mirrors. We apply the results so obtained to compute the first correction to the proximity force approximation to the static Casimir effect.

Semiclassical estimates of electromagnetic Casimir self-energies of spherical and cylindrical metallic shells

The leading semiclassical estimates of the electromagnetic Casimir stresses on a spherical and a cylindrical metallic shell are within 1% of the field theoretical values. The electromagnetic Casimir energy for both geometries is given by two decoupled massless scalars that satisfy conformally covariant boundary conditions. Surface contributions vanish for smooth metallic boundaries and the finite electromagnetic Casimir energy in leading semiclassical approximation is due to quadratic fluctuations about periodic rays in the interior of the cavity only. Semiclassically the non-vanishing Casimir energy of a metallic cylindrical shell is almost entirely due to Fresnel diffraction.

DIRICHLET CASIMIR ENERGY FOR A SCALAR FIELD IN A SPHERE: AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD

In this paper we compute the leading order of the Casimir energy for a free massless scalar field confined in a sphere in three spatial dimensions, with the Dirichlet boundary condition. When one tabulates all of the reported values of the Casimir energies for two closed geometries, cubical and spherical, in different space–time dimensions and with different boundary conditions, one observes a complicated pattern of signs. This pattern shows that the Casimir energy depends crucially on the details of the geometry, the number of the spatial dimensions, and the boundary conditions. The dependence of the sign of the Casimir energy on the details of the geometry, for a fixed spatial dimensions and boundary conditions has been a surprise to us and this is our main motivation for doing the calculations presented in this paper. Moreover, all of the calculations for spherical geometries include the use of numerical methods combined with intricate analytic continuations to handle many different sorts of divergences which naturally appear in this category of problems. The presence of divergences is always a source of concern about the accuracy of the numerical results. Our approach also includes numerical methods, and is based on Boyer's method for calculating the electromagnetic Casimir energy in a perfectly conducting sphere. This method, however, requires the least amount of analytic continuations. The value that we obtain confirms the previously established result.

Zero-point energy of a cylindrical layer of finite thickness

The zero-point electromagnetic (Casimir) energy of an infinitely long cylindrical layer of finite thickness is calculated. The dielectric and magnetic properties of the layer and those of the surrounding medium are assumed to be described by real constant dielectric permittivities and magnetic permeabilities satisfying the relationship of constant speed of light across the interfaces. We use the mode summation technique together with the Riemann $\ensuremath{\zeta}$-function regularization procedure to remove the occurring divergences from the Casimir energy. We present analytical expressions and numerical calculations for various limiting cases in terms of the radial dimension, curvature, and material composition of the cylindrical layer.

A direct approach to the electromagnetic Casimir energy in a rectangular waveguide

In this paper we compute the leading-order Casimir energy for the electromagnetic field (EM) in an open-ended perfectly conducting rectangular waveguide in three spatial dimensions by a direct approach. For this purpose, we first obtain the second quantized expression for the EM field with boundary conditions which would be appropriate for a waveguide. We then obtain the Casimir energy by two different procedures. Our main approach does not contain any analytic continuation techniques. The second approach involves the routine zeta function regularization along with some analytic continuation techniques. Our two approaches yield identical results. This energy has been calculated previously for the EM field in a rectangular waveguide using an indirect approach invoking analogies between EM fields and massless scalar fields, and using complicated analytic continuation techniques, and the results are identical to ours. We have also calculated the pressures on different sides and the total Casimir energy per unit length, and plotted these quantities as a function of the cross-sectional dimensions of the waveguide. We also present a physical discussion about the rather peculiar effect of the change in the sign of the pressures as a function of the shape of the cross-sectional area.

The Heat Kernel Expansion for the Electromagnetic Field in a Cavity

We derive the first six coefficients of the heat kernel expansion for the electromagnetic field in a cavity by relating it to the expansion for the Laplace operator acting on forms. As an application we verify that the electromagnetic Casimir energy is finite.

Complete Zeta-Function Approach to the Electromagnetic Casimir Effect for Spheres and Circles

A method for evaluating the electromagnetic Casimir energy in situations involving spherical or circular boundaries is presented. Zeta function regularization is unambiguously used from the start and the properties of Bessel and related zeta functions are central. Nontrivial results concerning these functions are given. While part of their application agrees with previous knowledge, new results like the zeta-regularized electromagnetic Casimir energy for a circular wire are included.