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、热光子及其在电磁卡西米尔力中的作用。h。b。g。卡西米尔，计算出了一个非凡的性质两个平行的不带电的金属板放在空白的空间里会互相吸引。这种力和相应的效应，现在被称为卡西米尔效应，是由量子场论所预测的遍及整个空间的零点电磁能量的板块（边界）的改变所产生的。卡西米尔力的独特之处在于它对形状的强烈依赖，作为边界的大小、几何形状和拓扑结构的函数，从吸引到排斥的转换。本研究将建立在过去两年中在简单几何相关性领域的快速理论进展的基础上。在纳米尺度上，研究具有周期性波纹的表面的横向卡西米尔力的几何依赖性，这将包括零点光子的协同衍射效应。此外，还将探讨热光子在卡西米尔效应中的作用。热光子的作用还没有完全被理解，因为有效地结合材料的介电损耗的问题，并且对热光子的非平凡几何依赖性也提出了有趣的预测。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预测新力或紧致额外维度存在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，但它会对距离小于一微米的宏观物体产生巨大的力。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得到了很好的认识。这项研究将有助于改进纳米机电器件，如纳米致动器、光通信微镜和纳米镊子。该研究项目还包括在实验室研究和纳米技术方面培训一名研究生和一名少数族裔本科生。

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.