Investigation of the role of geometry, thermal photons and their interplay in the electromagnetic Casimir force

这是一个实验和理论相结合的项目，研究几何形状，热光子及其在电磁卡西米尔力中的相互作用。 HBG卡西米尔计算出一个非凡的性质，即两个平行的不带电金属板放置在真空中会相互吸引。 这种力和相应的效应，现在被称为卡西米尔效应，是由量子场论预测的遍布整个空间的零点电磁能的板（边界）改变引起的。卡西米尔力的独特之处在于它对形状的强烈依赖，从吸引力到排斥力的转换是边界的大小，几何形状和拓扑结构的函数。 这项研究将建立在过去两年中在简单几何依赖性领域的快速理论进展的基础上。 横向Casimir力的几何形状的依赖性与周期性的表面上纳米长度尺度，这将包括合作的零点光子衍射样的效果进行调查。 此外，将探讨热光子在卡西米尔效应中的作用。 热光子的作用是不完全理解，由于有效地将材料的介电损耗和有趣的预测的非平凡的几何形状依赖性的问题也已经先进的热光子。最后，对负折射率材料在卡西米尔力中的作用进行了初步研究。 这项完整研究的结果也将允许对现代统一理论设定严格的限制，这些理论预测了新的力或紧致化的额外维度的存在。尽管卡西米尔效应起源于量子涨落，但它会在距离小于一微米的宏观物体上产生巨大的力。卡西米尔力在微机械器件的制造、功能和产量中的作用最近已得到很好的认识。 这项研究将导致改进的纳米机电器件，如纳米致动器，用于光通信的微镜和纳米镊子。 该研究计划还涉及一名研究生和一名少数民族本科生在实验室研究和纳米技术的培训。

This is a combined experimental and theoretical project to investigate the role of geometry, thermal photons and their interplay in the electromagnetic Casimir force. H.B.G. Casimir, calculated an extraordinary property that two parallel uncharged metallic plates placed in empty space would be attracted to each other. This force and the corresponding effect, now known as the Casimir effect, results from the alteration by the plates (boundaries) of the zero point electromagnetic energy that pervades all of space as predicted by quantum field theory. Unique to the Casimir force is its strong dependence on shape, switching from attractive to repulsive as a function of the size, geometry and topology of the boundary. This study will build on the rapid theoretical advances in the area of simple geometry dependencies in the last two years. Investigations into the geometry dependence of the lateral Casimir force for surfaces with periodic corrugation on nanometer length scales, which will incorporate cooperative diffraction like effects for the zero-point photons will be carried out. Additionally, the role of thermal photons in the Casimir effect will be explored. The role of thermal photons is not completely understood due to problems effectively incorporating the dielectric losses of the material and interesting predictions of non-trivial geometry dependence have also been advanced for thermal photons. Finally a preliminary investigation of the role of negative index of refraction materials in the Casimir force will be launched. The results of this complete study will also allow the setting of stringent limits on modern unification theories which predict the presence of new forces or compactified extra dimensions. Even though the Casimir effect originates from quantum fluctuations, it results in large forces on macroscopic objects separated by distances less than a micron. The role of Casimir forces in the fabrication, function and yield of micromechanical devices has recently become well recognized. This investigation will lead to improved nano-electromechanical devices such as nano actuators, micro mirrors for optical communication and nano tweezers. The research program also involves the training of a graduate student and a minority undergraduate student in laboratory research and nanotechnology.