ESF Research Networking Programme NEW TRENDS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE CASIMIR EFFECT

1. ESF Research Networking Programme NEW TRENDS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE CASIMIR EFFECT Presenter / CASIMIR chairman: George Palasantzas

2. QED says that vacuum in not empty but full with fluctuating EM fields or"vacuum fluctuations”with energy Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle H. Casimir (1948) ….Perfectly reflecting plates…………. virtual photons 1909-2000 d What is the Casimir effect ?..... First high accuracy measurement in 1997 by S. Lamoreaux

3. Real dissipative materials …....Lifshitz theory (1955) ri: Fresnel reflection coefficients for s (TE mode) & p (TM mode) polarization

4. CASIMIR:Aims to foster European/pan-European collaborations in Casimir physics 58 participating research groups / 11 different countries A dynamic forum for quick and efficient exchange by: •Integrating and disseminating by the exchange of junior researchers and students between research groups via short visit or exchange grants •Facilitating the smooth exchange of new ideas •Providing interdisciplinary training and foster collaboration by creating links with leading groups in different areas of adjacent communities •Providing transmission of new concepts and techniques from research frontiers to the basic training level by organising science meetings Short visit grants: 4 in 2008, 12 in 2009, 12 in 2010 Exchange grants: 1 in 2008, 4 in 2009, 2 in 2010 science meetings:6 Scientific publications: > 200 Program objectives

5. Annual budget 95000 € Contributing organizations

6. Network core research topics Casimir effect: measurement and theory Casimir force in complex geometries and novel topologies: control of Casimir force & applications to MEMS/NEMS; patterned or corrugated surfaces, nanospheres, small spheroïd shaped bodies, edge effects, vacuum torques, beyond proximity force approximation (PFA) measurements and calculations. New materials and their optical properties: Carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, metamaterials, quasicrystals, superconductors, photonic crystals, phase change materials Repulsive and lateral Casimir forces Thermal Casimir effects Applications in nanophysics, biophysics, and disordered systems Challenges in vacuum properties Casimir effect, vacuum energy, gravity and cosmology Casimir effect and tests of the equivalence principle Dynamical Casimir effect Related Casimir topics Critical Casimir Forces Dispersion forces in liquids Casimir Polder interaction with BEC and molecules Quantum friction and Casimir momentum

7. Future planning • Popularity of QED fluctuations (both experiment and theory) • Connect Casimir effect with world (Nanotechnology & fundamental physics) • Casimir-Polder effect • Drude – Plasma model discrepancy in relation to existing/new force data • Casimir repulsive forces • Biology and dispersion forces (biomolecule recognition by selective van der Waals/Casimir dispersion forces) • Calculations and applications of Casimir dispersive forces • Electrostatics – patch effects on contact potentials • Nanoparticles & size effects on dispersion forces • van der Waals/Gecko superadhesion for various types of rough surfaces and applications to robots, superadhesive tapes etc… • Investigation of vacuum energy in quantum field theory with applications to QCD and cosmology • Relation of Casimir effect to industry (develop further present industrial contacts) and impact on economy More workshops/schools & focus on 2-3 topical meetings /year

8. Geometry –size effects & experiments EPL 2009, Eur.P. News 2009 MEMSlateral Casimir- contactless motion PRL 2009 PRL 2010 Metamaterials repulsive forces Au nanoscale split-ring resonators Indicative results

9. PRA (RC) 2010 Phase change materials (PCM): AIST system Measuring device: AC states Dissimilar systems: Au-HOPG Exp. Eur. Lett. 2010 % Theory Friction coefficient between two graphene sheets Indicative results Proof-of-concept device Quantum (van der Waals)Friction Au-Au Au-HOPG PRL 2011

10. Repulsion-Attraction in liquids Repulsion Attraction Attraction PRA 2010  repulsion PRE, PRB 2009 Dynamical Casimir ► Simulate a mirror motion by changing mirror reflectivity ► The semiconductor reflectivity is driven by laser irradiation  mirror switches from completely transparent to completely reflective (for microwaves) Padova experiment

11. Conclusions ►CASIMIR program has developed rapidly almost doubling size & more than 200 publications ► Novel experiments concerning the static or dynamic Casimir effect have been developed by groups (AFM, MEMS) ► Casimir force calculations using numerous different methods ► Research efforts have been strongly supported by short visits, exchange grants and science meetings ► More science meetings are planned for the remaining years ► Try to establish strong links with industry and contribute to the broader EU economy ► CASIMIR is part of several activities within EU & national programs, and international collaborations with “Americas” Acknowledgements: ESF, 11 countries & member groups Thank you for your attention