The Casimir effect as a scattering problem

DOI10.1088/1751-8113/41/16/164003zbMATH Open1161.81440arXiv0711.2395OpenAlexW3104811890WikidataQ60861780 ScholiaQ60861780MaRDI QIDQ5385754FDOQ5385754

Authors: A. Wirzba 

Publication date: 6 May 2008

Published in: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We show that Casimir-force calculations for a finite number of non-overlapping obstacles can be mapped onto quantum-mechanical billiard-type problems which are characterized by the scattering of a fictitious point particle off the very same obstacles. With the help of a modified Krein trace formula the genuine/finite part of the Casimir energy is determined as the energy-weighted integral over the log-determinant of the multi-scattering matrix of the analog billiard problem. The formalism is self-regulating and inherently shows that the Casimir energy is governed by the infrared end of the multi-scattering phase shifts or spectrum of the fluctuating field. The calculation is exact and in principle applicable for any separation(s) between the obstacles. In practice, it is more suited for large- to medium-range separations. We report especially about the Casimir energy of a fluctuating massless scalar field between two spheres or a sphere and a plate under Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. But the formalism can easily be extended to any number of spheres and/or planes in three or arbitrary dimensions, with a variety of boundary conditions or non-overlapping potentials/non-ideal reflectors.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0711.2395

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

(2)-body potential quantum scattering theory (81U05) Electromagnetic interaction; quantum electrodynamics (81V10)

Cited In (9)

• Dimensional reduction formulae for spectral traces and Casimir energies
• Casimir effect and the uncertainty principle
• Casimir forces between arbitrary compact objects
• Trace singularities in obstacle scattering and the Poisson relation for the relative trace
• Casimir Effect in the Scattering Approach: Correlations Between Material Properties, Temperature and Geometry
• Multiple scattering methods in Casimir calculations
• A dispersion relation for the density of states with application to the Casimir effect
• Accounting for dissipation in the scattering approach to the Casimir energy
• The scattering approach to the Casimir force

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