Casimir forces between micromechanical components on a silicon chip

H. B. Chan, L. Tang, C. Y. Ng, M. Nikolic, C. T. Chan, A. W. Rodriguez

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Quantum fluctuations give rise to van der Waals and Casimir forces between electrically neutral conducting objects. For free space, the electromagnetic field can be identically zero in the classical picture. In quantum electrodynamics, on the other hand, electromagnetic fields can never be exactly zero in free space because they are continuously fluctuating. The energy of a photon mode is given by (n+1/2)ħω, where ħ is the Planck’s constant/2π, ω is the frequency of the mode and n is the number of photons. In other words, there is a finite zero-point energy (1/2)ħω even when no real photons are present. For a cavity formed by two perfectly conducting plates, the electromagnetic field must satisfy the boundary conditions. The zero-point energy density for the electromagnetic fluctuations between the plates is smaller than that in free space. As a result, there is a net attractive force between the plates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationJSAP-OSA Joint Symposia, JSAP 2015
PublisherOptica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)
ISBN (Electronic)9784863485419
ISBN (Print)9784863485419
StatePublished - 2015
EventJSAP-OSA Joint Symposia 2015 - Nagoya, Japan
Duration: Sep 13 2015Sep 16 2015

Publication series

NameOptics InfoBase Conference Papers
VolumePart F132-JSAP 2015
ISSN (Electronic)2162-2701

Conference

ConferenceJSAP-OSA Joint Symposia 2015
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityNagoya
Period9/13/159/16/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Mechanics of Materials

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