Fluctuation-induced Interactions in Micro- and Nano-systems: Survey of Some Basic Results

TL;DR

This paper reviews fundamental results on fluctuation-induced forces like Casimir and Helmholtz forces, highlighting their relevance to nanotechnology and micro-system assembly, with connections to the Ising model and experimental challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive survey of fluctuation-induced forces, including theoretical results, examples, and their implications for nanotechnology and micro-system design.

Findings

Connections between Casimir and Helmholtz forces via the Ising model

Importance of fluctuation forces for nanotechnology applications

Identification of key experimental challenges and strategies

Abstract

On the examples of the quantum-electrodynamical Casimir force, as well as critical Casimir and Helmholtz forces, we present a review of some results available for the class of fluctuation induced forces. In addition, we also concisely present examples of other such fluctuation-induced forces. On the instance of the Ising model we discuss the connection between the Casimir and Helmholtz forces. We discuss the importance of the presented results for the nanotechnology, and especially for devising micro- or nano-systems, and for their assembly. Some important problems for the nanotechnology, following from the currently available experimental findings, are spelled out and possible strategies for their overcoming are outlined.