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，旨在研究几何、热光子及其在电磁Casimir力中的作用。H·B·G·卡西米尔(H.B.G.Casimir)计算出了一个非同寻常的性质，即两个平行的不带电荷的金属板放在空白空间中会相互吸引。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及整个空间的零点电磁能量通过板(边界)改变的结果。Casimir力的独特之处在于它对形状的强烈依赖，随着边界的大小、几何形状和拓扑结构的变化，从吸引到排斥的转换。这项研究将建立在过去两年在简单几何依赖领域的快速理论进展的基础上。研究纳米尺度周期波纹表面的横向Casimir力的几何依赖性，它将考虑零点光子的协同绕射效应。此外，还将探讨热光子在卡西米尔效应中的作用。由于有效地结合了材料的介电损耗的问题，热光子的作用还没有完全被理解，关于热光子的非平凡几何相关性的有趣的预测也被提出了。最后，将对负折射率材料在卡西米尔力中的作用展开初步调查。这一完整研究的结果还将允许对预测存在新的力或压缩的额外维度的现代统一理论设定严格的限制。尽管卡西米尔效应起源于量子涨落，但它对相距不到一微米的宏观物体产生了巨大的作用力。最近，Casimir力在微机械器件的制造、功能和成品率中的作用已经得到了很好的认识。这项研究将导致改进的纳米机电设备，如纳米致动器，用于光通信的微镜和纳米镊子。该研究计划还包括对一名研究生和一名少数族裔本科生进行实验室研究和纳米技术方面的培训。

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.