The Casimir Effect and Thermodynamic Instability

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the Casimir effect between conducting plates can lead to violations of thermodynamic stability conditions, similar to those observed in black hole thermodynamics, highlighting potential issues in one-loop field theory calculations.

Contribution

It reveals that the Casimir force can violate thermodynamic stability conditions, extending the understanding of such violations beyond black hole physics.

Findings

Casimir force violates thermodynamic stability conditions

Similar violations are observed in black hole equations of state

Highlights potential issues in one-loop field theory calculations

Abstract

One loop field theory calculations of free energies quite often yield violations of the stability conditions associated with the thermodynamic second law. Perhaps the best known example involves the equation of state of black holes. Here, it is pointed out that the Casimir force between two parallel conducting plates also violates a thermodynamic stability condition normally associated with the second law of thermodynamics.