Electromagnetic Casimir Effect in Wedge Geometry and the Energy-Momentum Tensor in Media

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electromagnetic Casimir effect in a wedge geometry with media, analyzing energy-momentum tensors and temperature effects, extending understanding of quantum vacuum forces in complex geometries.

Contribution

It provides new insights into Casimir energies in wedge geometries with media, including temperature dependence and the proper electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor choice.

Findings

Casimir energy is finite when the speed of light is equal on both sides of the wedge.

Temperature dependence of Casimir energy in conducting wedge geometries is characterized.

Discussion on the appropriate electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor for media.

Abstract

The wedge geometry closed by a circular-cylindrical arc is a nontrivial generalization of the cylinder, which may have various applications. If the radial boundaries are not perfect conductors, the angular eigenvalues are only implicitly determined. When the speed of light is the same on both sides of the wedge, the Casimir energy is finite, unlike the case of a perfect conductor, where there is a divergence associated with the corners where the radial planes meet the circular arc. We advance the study of this system by reporting results on the temperature dependence for the conducting situation. We also discuss the appropriate choice of the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor.