Multiple scattering methods in Casimir calculations

DOI10.1088/1751-8113/41/15/155402zbMATH Open1136.81419arXiv0712.3811OpenAlexW3103171384MaRDI QIDQ5460465FDOQ5460465

Authors: Kimball A. Milton, Jef Wagner 

Publication date: 28 April 2008

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

Abstract: Multiple scattering formulations have been employed for more than 30 years as a method of studying the quantum vacuum or Casimir interactions between distinct bodies. Here we review the method in the simple context of $delta$-function potentials, so-called semitransparent bodies. (In the limit of strong coupling, a semitransparent boundary becomes a Dirichlet one.) After applying the method to rederive the Casimir force between two semitransparent plates and the Casimir self-stress on a semitransparent sphere, we obtain expressions for the Casimir energies between disjoint parallel semitransparent cylinders and between disjoint semitransparent spheres. Simplifications occur for weak and strong coupling. In particular, after performing a power series expansion in the ratio of the radii of the objects to the separation between them, we are able to sum the weak-coupling expansions exactly to obtain explicit closed forms for the Casimir interaction energy. The same can be done for the interaction of a weak-coupling sphere or cylinder with a Dirichlet plane. We show that the proximity force approximation (PFA), which becomes the proximity force theorem when the objects are almost touching, is very poor for finite separations.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.3811

Recommendations

• Casimir forces between arbitrary compact objects
• The scattering approach to the Casimir force
• The Casimir effect as a scattering problem
• Casimir energy and geometry: beyond the proximity force approximation
• Casimir forces in multi-sphere configurations

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05) Electromagnetic interaction; quantum electrodynamics (81V10) (n)-body potential quantum scattering theory (81U10)

Cited In (20)

• Dimensional reduction formulae for spectral traces and Casimir energies
• Casimir forces between arbitrary compact objects
• Casimir forces from a loop integral formulation
• Efficient evaluation of Casimir force in arbitrary three-dimensional geometries by integral equation methods
• Numerical analysis of multiple scattering theory for electronic structure calculations
• Attractive and repulsive Casimir vacuum energy with general boundary conditions
• On a possible method of Casimir pressure renormalization in a ball
• Space-time propagator and exact solution for wave equation in a layered system
• Numerical aspects of Casimir energy computation in acoustic scattering
• A mathematical analysis of Casimir interactions. I: The scalar field
• The proximity force approximation for the Casimir energy of plate-sphere and sphere-sphere systems in the presence of one extra compactified universal dimension
• A microscopic approach to Casimir and Casimir-Polder forces between metallic bodies
• A relative trace formula for obstacle scattering
• A multiple scattering theory approach to solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation with an asymmetric rectangular potential
• Numerical Methods for Computing Casimir Interactions
• LEADING- AND NEXT-TO-LEADING-ORDER LATERAL CASIMIR FORCE ON CORRUGATED SURFACES
• Mode summation approach to Casimir effect between two objects
• The scattering approach to the Casimir force
• Finite temperature Casimir effect for massive scalars in a magnetic field
• A multiple shooting method for the Zeeman effect

This page was built for publication: Multiple scattering methods in Casimir calculations

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q5460465)