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Casimir effect and the quantum vacuum

R. L. Jaffe
Phys. Rev. D 72, 021301(R) – Published 12 July 2005

Abstract

In discussions of the cosmological constant, the Casimir effect is often invoked as decisive evidence that the zero-point energies of quantum fields are “real.” On the contrary, Casimir effects can be formulated and Casimir forces can be computed without reference to zero-point energies. They are relativistic, quantum forces between charges and currents. The Casimir force (per unit area) between parallel plates vanishes as α, the fine structure constant, goes to zero, and the standard result, which appears to be independent of α, corresponds to the α limit.

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  • Received 3 May 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.72.021301

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. L. Jaffe

  • Center for Theoretical Physics, Laboratory for Nuclear Science and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

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Issue

Vol. 72, Iss. 2 — 15 July 2005

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