On the Casimir effect from the zero-point energy: A tangential force and its properties

TL;DR

This paper explores the tangential Casimir force arising from zero-point energy in systems of misaligned plates, including conductors and dielectrics, and examines its properties, corrections, and potential observability.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a tangential Casimir force from zero-point energy in misaligned systems and extends the analysis to dielectric and imperfect conductors with temperature corrections.

Findings

Tangential Casimir force exists in perfect conductors and dielectrics.

Finite-conductivity and temperature effects modify the force magnitude.

Force strength suggests potential for experimental observation.

Abstract

We investigate the Casimir effect in the systems that consist of parallel but misaligned finite-size plates from the point of view of zero-point energy. We elaborate the zero-point energies of the radiation field in the perfect conductor systems would generate a tangential Casimir force, and explore the properties and consequences of this tangential force in various conductor systems. Thereafter, we generalize our discussion to dielectrics. After calculating the total zero-point energies of the surface modes in the multilayered systems, we show that the tangential force also exists in dielectrics. We obtain the finite-conductivity corrections to the tangential force for imperfectly conducting plates, and calculate the finite-temperature corrections to the force. The typical strength of the tangential force suggests it might be observable.