Local and global Casimir energies: divergences, renormalization, and the coupling to gravity

DOI10.1007/978-3-642-20288-9_3zbMATH Open1246.81344OpenAlexW3099754749MaRDI QIDQ2909445FDOQ2909445

Authors: Kimball A. Milton 

Publication date: 30 August 2012

Published in: Casimir Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: From the beginning of the subject, calculations of quantum vacuum energies or Casimir energies have been plagued with two types of divergences: The total energy, which may be thought of as some sort of regularization of the zero-point energy, $sumfrac12hbaromega$, seems manifestly divergent. And local energy densities, obtained from the vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor, $langle{T}_{00}angle$, typically diverge near boundaries. The energy of interaction between distinct rigid bodies of whatever type is finite, corresponding to observable forces and torques between the bodies, which can be unambiguously calculated. The self-energy of a body is less well-defined, and suffers divergences which may or may not be removable. Some examples where a unique total self-stress may be evaluated include the perfectly conducting spherical shell first considered by Boyer, a perfectly conducting cylindrical shell, and dilute dielectric balls and cylinders. In these cases the finite part is unique, yet there are divergent contributions which may be subsumed in some sort of renormalization of physical parameters. The divergences that occur in the local energy-momentum tensor near surfaces are distinct from the divergences in the total energy, which are often associated with energy located exactly on the surfaces. However, the local energy-momentum tensor couples to gravity, so what is the significance of infinite quantities here? For the classic situation of parallel plates there are indications that the divergences in the local energy density are consistent with divergences in Einstein's equations; correspondingly, it has been shown that divergences in the total Casimir energy serve to precisely renormalize the masses of the plates, in accordance with the equivalence principle.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1005.0031

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Perturbative methods of renormalization applied to problems in quantum field theory (81T15) Gravitational interaction in quantum theory (81V17) Casimir effect in quantum field theory (81T55)

Cited In (8)

• Local and global Casimir energies for a semitransparent cylindrical shell
• Casimir energy-momentum tensor for curved boundaries in de Sitter space-time
• Vacuum stress–energy density and its gravitational implications
• Casimir energy corrections by light-cone fluctuations
• Casimir effect due to a single boundary as a manifestation of the Weyl problem
• Casimir energies in light of quantum field theory
• Resolution of an apparent inconsistency in the electromagnetic Casimir effect
• Local zeta regularization and the Casimir effect

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