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arXiv · 2001.09096

Casimir induced instabilities at metallic surfaces and interfaces

Kun Ding·Daigo Oue·C. T. Chan·J. B. Pendry
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Abstract

Surface plasmons subject to a surface distortion split asymmetrically in energy resulting in a net lowering of zero-point energy. This is because surface plasmon eigenvalues are the square of frequencies, a statement generally true for electromagnetic excitations. We utilize the method based on conformal mapping to demonstrate asymmetric splitting under surface corrugations leading to a decrease in zero-point energy of a single corrugated metallic surface contributing to surface reconstructions but too small on its own to drive the reconstruction. However, by introducing a second metallic surface more significant lowering of energy is seen sufficient to drive the instability of a mercury thin film.

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Kun Ding, Daigo Oue, C. T. Chan, J. B. Pendry. 2020-01-24. Casimir induced instabilities at metallic surfaces and interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.126.046802

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