Quantum electrodynamical torques in the presence of Brownian motion

J. N. Munday, D. Iannuzzi, F. Capasso

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Abstract

Quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field give rise to a zero-point energy that persists even in the absence of electromagnetic sources. One striking consequence of the zero-point energy is manifested in the Casimir force, which causes two electrically neutral metallic plates to attract in order to reduce the zero-point energy. A second, less well-known, effect is a torque that arises between two birefringent materials with in-plane optical anisotropy as a result of the zero-point energy. In this paper, we discuss the influence of Brownian motion on two birefringent plates undergoing quantum electrodynamical (QED) rotation as a result of the system's zero-point energy. Direct calculations for the torque are presented, and preliminary experiments are discussed. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.
Original languageEnglish
JournalNew Journal of Physics
Volume8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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Quantum electrodynamical torques in the presence of Brownian motion

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