The magnon mediated plasmon friction: a functional integral approach

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum friction between two metallic surfaces mediated by magnons in an intermediate ferromagnetic layer, revealing a positive correlation between sliding speed, particle production, and friction through a functional integral approach.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework for calculating magnon-mediated plasmon friction using a functional integral method, linking particle production to frictional forces.

Findings

Friction and particle production increase with sliding speed.

Theoretical and numerical results agree on the positive correlation.

Magnons effectively mediate quantum friction in the system.

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss quantum friction in a system formed by two metallic surfaces separated by a ferromagnetic intermedium of a certain thickness. The internal degrees of freedom in the two metallic surfaces are assumed to be plasmons, while the excitations in the intermediate material are magnons, modeling plasmons coupled to magnons. During relative sliding, one surface moves uniformly parallel to the other, causing friction in the system. By calculating the effective action of the magnons, we can determine the particle production probability, which shows a positive correlation between the probability and the sliding speed. Finally, we derive the frictional force of the system, with both theoretical and numerical results indicating that the friction, like the particle production probability, also has a positive correlation with the speed.