Higher-order generalized uncertainty principle corrections to Casimir-supported traversable wormholes

Abstract

We investigate traversable wormholes supported by Casimir vacuum energy with second-order generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) corrections. For two representative GUP models, we derive higher-order corrections to the Casimir energy and construct exact wormhole solutions in general relativity. The resulting geometries satisfy the throat, flare-out, and asymptotic-flatness conditions. Higher-order corrections modify the wormhole mass and reduce the exotic matter required, although the null and weak energy conditions remain violated near the throat. We further analyze weak gravitational lensing and gravitational-wave echoes, finding model-dependent signatures that may distinguish different GUP realizations. By relating the dimensionless parameter used in the solutions to the conventional phenomenological GUP parameter, we show that its physical interpretation depends strongly on the throat radius. Most current experimental bounds favor near-Planckian throats for appreciable GUP corrections, while macroscopic throats generally require much weaker corrections. These results provide a framework for confronting GUP-corrected Casimir wormholes with laboratory constraints and astrophysical observations.