Probing the Coherent Scattering of Zero-point Photons in the Casimir Force using Diffraction Gratings

卡西米尔力作用于放置在真空中的两个物体之间。根据现代物理学的定律，真空不是绝对的空，而是充满了无限数量的虚粒子。卡西米尔力是由于两个物体的存在而使这些虚粒子的性质发生改变而产生的。因此，它的价值和性质严重依赖于身体的形状和几何形状。在过去的五年中，在简单几何效应依赖领域的理论进展迅速，部分原因是我们对正弦波纹表面（光栅）的横向卡西米尔力的演示。对于这种光栅，虚光子的衍射相干散射效应不能用标准理论来预测，标准理论仅仅是将相互作用体的小部分效应加起来。我们的目标是用正弦光栅和锯齿光栅完整地绘制出横向卡西米尔力中虚光子的相干散射。这种侧向卡西米尔力在纳米级齿轮和齿条和小齿轮系统中产生非接触侧向平移的许多应用已经被预测。PI参与了许多具有更广泛影响的协同活动。指导K-12学生2人，本科生12人（少数民族7人），研究生8人，博士后6人。申请资助指导一名少数民族本科生和研究生。UCR是一个少数人的机构。PI的研究发表在主要期刊上，并在许多公告中得到报道。PI为高中和社区大学学生开发了教学模块，这是NSF资助项目的一部分。他参与组织了五次研讨会。力测量技术已被转移到超灵敏微加工生物传感器的开发中。

The Casimir force acts between two bodies placed in empty space (vacuum). According to the laws of modern physics the vacuum is not an absolute emptiness, but is filled with an infinite number of virtual particles. The Casimir force results from the modifications of the properties of these virtual particles due to the presence of the two bodies. Thus its value and nature is critically dependent on the shape and geometry of the bodies. The last five years have seen rapid theoretical advances in the area of the dependence of the effect on simple geometry, motivated in part by our demonstration of the lateral Casimir force for sinusoidally corrugated surfaces (gratings). For such gratings, the diffraction-like coherent scattering effects of the virtual photons cannot be predicted by standard theories which merely add up the effects of small sections of the interacting bodies. Our objectives are to completely map the coherent scattering of virtual photons in the lateral Casimir force with both sinusoidal and saw toothed (blazed) gratings. Many applications for such lateral Casimir forces for bringing about noncontact lateral translations in nanoscale gears and rack and pinion systems have been predicted.The PI has been involved with many synergistic activities of broader impact. He has mentored two K-12 students, 12 undergraduates (7 minority), 8 graduate students and 6 postdoctoral fellows in lab research. Funding for mentoring one minority undergraduate and graduate student is requested. UCR is a minority institution. The PI's research is published in leading journals and has also been reported in many public announcements. The PI has developed teaching modules for high school and community college students as part of a NSF funded project. He has co-organized five workshops. The force measurement technique has been transferred for the development of ultrasensitive microfabricated biosensors.