The Casimir Effect and the Quantum Vacuum

TL;DR

This paper clarifies that the Casimir effect arises from relativistic quantum forces between charges and currents, not directly from zero point energies, challenging common interpretations related to the cosmological constant.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Casimir forces can be derived without referencing zero point energies, emphasizing their origin in relativistic quantum interactions rather than vacuum energy.

Findings

Casimir force vanishes as the fine structure constant approaches zero.

Standard Casimir result corresponds to the limit of infinite fine structure constant.

The effect can be formulated without zero point energy considerations.

Abstract

In discussions of the cosmological constant, the Casimir effect is often invoked as decisive evidence that the zero point energies of quantum fields are "real''. On the contrary, Casimir effects can be formulated and Casimir forces can be computed without reference to zero point energies. They are relativistic, quantum forces between charges and currents. The Casimir force (per unit area) between parallel plates vanishes as \alpha, the fine structure constant, goes to zero, and the standard result, which appears to be independent of \alpha, corresponds to the \alpha\to\infty limit.