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The Casimir force between real materials: Experiment and theory

G. L. Klimchitskaya, U. Mohideen, and V. M. Mostepanenko
Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 1827 – Published 21 December 2009

Abstract

The physical origin of the Casimir force is connected with the existence of zero-point and thermal fluctuations. The Casimir effect is very general and finds applications in various fields of physics. This review is limited to the rapid progress at the intersection of experiment and theory that has been achieved in the last few years. It includes a critical assessment of the proposed approaches to the resolution of the puzzles arising in the applications of the Lifshitz theory of the van der Waals and Casimir forces to real materials. All the primary experiments on the measurement of the Casimir force between macroscopic bodies and the Casimir-Polder force between an atom and a wall that have been performed in the last decade are reviewed, including the theory needed for their interpretation. The methodology for the comparison between experiment and theory in the force-distance measurements is presented. The experimental and theoretical results described here provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of dispersion forces in real materials and offer guidance for the application of the Lifshitz theory to the interpretation of the measurement results.

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    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1827

    ©2009 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    G. L. Klimchitskaya*

    • Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leipzig University, Postfach 100920, Leipzig D-04009, Germany and North-West Technical University, Millionnaya Street 5, St. Petersburg 191065, Russia

    U. Mohideen

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA

    V. M. Mostepanenko

    • Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leipzig University, Postfach 100920, Leipzig D-04009, Germany and Noncommercial Partnership “Scientific Instruments,” Tverskaya Street 11, Moscow 103905, Russia

    • *galina.klimchitskaya@itp.uni-leipzig.de
    • umar.mohideen@ucr.edu
    • vladimir.mostepanenko@itp.uni-leipzig.de

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    Issue

    Vol. 81, Iss. 4 — October - December 2009

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