Advances in the Casimir Effect

Michael Bordag, Galina Leonidovna Klimchitskaya, Umar Mohideen, and Vladimir Mikhaylovich Mostepanenko

International Series of Monographs on Physics

Equal emphasis on experiment and theory
Critical analysis of current debates
Summary of information from hundreds of recently published journal papers
Comprehensively referenced

Advances in the Casimir Effect

Michael Bordag, Galina Leonidovna Klimchitskaya, Umar Mohideen, and Vladimir Mikhaylovich Mostepanenko

International Series of Monographs on Physics

Description

The subject of this book is the Casimir effect, a manifestation of zero-point oscillations of the quantum vacuum resulting in forces acting between closely spaced bodies. For the benefit of the reader, the book assembles field-theoretical foundations of this phenomenon, applications of the general theory to real materials, and a comprehensive description of all recently performed measurements of the Casimir force with a comparison between experiment and theory. There is an urgent need for a book of this type, given the increase of interest in forces originating from the quantum vacuum. Numerous new results have been obtained in the last few years which are not reflected in previous books on the subject, but which are very promising for fundamental science and nanotechnology. The book is a unique source of information presenting a critical assessment of all the main results and approaches from hundreds of journal papers. It also outlines new ideas which have not yet been universally accepted but which are finding increasing support from experiment.

Advances in the Casimir Effect

Michael Bordag, Galina Leonidovna Klimchitskaya, Umar Mohideen, and Vladimir Mikhaylovich Mostepanenko

International Series of Monographs on Physics

1. Introduction
I: PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE CASIMIR EFFECT FOR IDEAL BOUNDARIES
2. Simple models of the Casimir effect
3. Field quantization and vacuum energy in the presence of boundaries
4. Regularization and renormalization of the vacuum energy
5. The Casimir effect at nonzero temperature
6. Approximate and numerical approaches to the Casimir effect
7. The Casimir effect for two ideal metal planes
8. The Casimir effect in rectangular boxes
9. Single spherical and cylindrical boundaries
10. The Casimir force between objects of arbitrary shape
11. Spaces with non-Euclidean topology
II: THE CASIMIR FORCE BETWEEN REAL BODIES
12. The Lifshitz theory of van der Waals and Casimir forces between plane dielectrics
13. The Casimir interaction between plates made of real metals at zero temperature
14. The Casimir interaction between real metals at nonzero temperature
15. The Casimir interaction between metal and dielectric
16. The Lifshitz theory of atom-wall interaction
17. The Casimir force between rough and corrugated surfaces
III: MEASUREMENTS OF THE CASIMIR FORCE AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN BOTH FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
18. General requirements for Casimir force measurements
19. Measurements of the Casimir force between equals
20. Measurements of the Casimir force with semiconductors
21. Measurements of the Casimir force in configurations with corrugated surfaces
22. Measurement of the Casimir-Polder force
23. Applications of the Casimir force in nanotechnology
24. Constraints on hypothetical interactions from the Casimir effect
25. Conclusions and outlook

Advances in the Casimir Effect

Michael Bordag, Galina Leonidovna Klimchitskaya, Umar Mohideen, and Vladimir Mikhaylovich Mostepanenko

International Series of Monographs on Physics

Author Information

Michael Bordag is affiliated with the Center of Theoretical Studies and Institute for Theoretical Physics at Leipzig University, Germany.

Galina Leonidovna Klimchitskaya is affiliated with the Department of Astrophysics at Central Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Institute of Physics, Nanotechnology and Telecommunications at St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, in St.Petersburg, Russia.

Umar Mohideen is affiliated with the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Riverside.

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Mostepanenko is affiliated with the Department of Astrophysics at Central Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Institute of Physics, Nanotechnology and Telecommunications at St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, in St.Petersburg, Russia.