Electronic zero-point fluctuation forces inside circuit components

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum zero-point fluctuations induce tunable Casimir-like forces within electrical circuit components, offering new insights for nanoelectromechanical and quantum technology applications.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of electronic Casimir-like potentials caused by zero-point current fluctuations in circuits, demonstrating their tunability in practical devices.

Findings

Tunable fluctuation-induced forces can be achieved in circuit components.

Zero-point fluctuations cause measurable level shifts in superconducting qubits.

Potential applications in nanoelectromechanical systems and quantum technologies.

Abstract

One of the most intriguing manifestations of quantum zero-point fluctuations are the van der Waals and Casimir forces, often associated with vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Here we study generalized fluctuation potentials acting on internal degrees of freedom of components in electrical circuits. These electronic Casimir-like potentials are induced by the zero-point current fluctuations of any general conductive circuit. For realistic examples of an electromechanical capacitor and a superconducting qubit, our results reveal the possibility of tunable forces between the capacitor plates, or the level shifts of the qubit, respectively. Our analysis suggests an alternative route towards the exploration of Casimir-like fluctuation potentials, namely, by characterizing and measuring them as a function of parameters of the environment. Such tunable potentials may be useful for future nanoelectromechanical and quantum technologies.