Electrodynamic Casimir effect in a medium-filled wedge

Iver Brevik, Simen Å. Ellingsen, and Kimball A. Milton
Phys. Rev. E 79, 041120 – Published 13 April 2009

Abstract

We re-examine the electrodynamic Casimir effect in a wedge defined by two perfect conductors making dihedral angle α=π/p. This system is analogous to the system defined by a cosmic string. We consider the wedge region as filled with an azimuthally symmetric material, with permittivity and permeability ε1, μ1 for distance from the axis r<a, and ε2, μ2 for r>a. The results are closely related to those for a circular-cylindrical geometry, but with noninteger azimuthal quantum number mp. Apart from a zero-mode divergence, which may be removed by choosing periodic boundary conditions on the wedge, and may be made finite if dispersion is included, we obtain finite results for the free energy corresponding to changes in a for the case when the speed of light is the same inside and outside the radius a, and for weak coupling, |ε1ε2|1, for purely dielectric media. We also consider the radiation produced by the sudden appearance of an infinite cosmic string, situated along the cusp line of the pre-existing wedge.

    • Received 27 January 2009

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.041120

    ©2009 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    Iver Brevik* and Simen Å. Ellingsen

    • Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway

    Kimball A. Milton

    • Oklahoma Center for High Energy Physics and Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA

    • *iver.h.brevik@ntnu.no
    • simen.a.ellingsen@ntnu.no
    • milton@nhn.ou.edu

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    Issue

    Vol. 79, Iss. 4 — April 2009

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