Collective Boundary Effects in Nanoscale Electromagnetic Casimir Forces

University Of California-Riverside, Riverside CA

Investigators

Abstract

This research project focuses on the study of some of the collective nontrivial boundary dependencies of the Casimir force using an atomic force microscope. The primary aims of the project are the demonstration of collective nontrivial electromagnetic zero point photon diffraction-like effects in Casimir forces from periodically corrugated surfaces, novel characteristics of the lateral Casimir force which can lead to horizontal motion, resulting entirely from the vacuum properties of quantum electrodynamics and observation of repulsive Casimir forces. The broader impact involves the education of both graduate and undergraduate students as well as outreach to K-12 "at risk" students.