arXiv subjects

Jef Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to Jef Wagner.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Multiple Scattering Methods in Casimir Calculations

Multiple scattering formulations have been employed for more than 30 years as a method of studying the quantum vacuum or Casimir interactions between distinct bodies. Here we review the method in the simple context of $δ$-function potentials, so-called semitransparent bodies. (In the limit of strong coupling, a semitransparent boundary becomes a Dirichlet one.) After applying the method to rederive the Casimir force between two semitransparent plates and the Casimir self-stress on a semitransparent sphere, we obtain expressions for the Casimir energies between disjoint parallel semitransparent cylinders and between disjoint semitransparent spheres. Simplifications occur for weak and strong coupling. In particular, after performing a power series expansion in the ratio of the radii of the objects to the separation between them, we are able to sum the weak-coupling expansions exactly to obtain explicit closed forms for the Casimir interaction energy. The same can be done for the interaction of a weak-coupling sphere or cylinder with a Dirichlet plane. We show that the proximity force approximation (PFA), which becomes the proximity force theorem when the objects are almost touching, is very poor for finite separations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Exact Casimir Interaction Between Semitransparent Spheres and Cylinders

A multiple scattering formulation is used to calculate the force, arising from fluctuating scalar fields, between distinct bodies described by $δ$-function potentials, so-called semitransparent bodies. (In the limit of strong coupling, a semitransparent boundary becomes a Dirichlet one.) We obtain expressions for the Casimir energies between disjoint parallel semitransparent cylinders and between disjoint semitransparent spheres. In the limit of weak coupling, we derive power series expansions for the energy, which can be exactly summed, so that explicit, very simple, closed-form expressions are obtained in both cases. The proximity force theorem holds when the objects are almost touching, but is subject to large corrections as the bodies are moved further apart.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

PT-Symmetry Quantum Electrodynamics--PTQED

The construction of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum electrodynamics is reviewed. In particular, the massless version of the theory in 1+1 dimensions (the Schwinger model) is solved. Difficulties with unitarity of the $S$-matrix are discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

How does Casimir energy fall? II. Gravitational acceleration of quantum vacuum energy

It has been demonstrated that quantum vacuum energy gravitates according to the equivalence principle, at least for the finite Casimir energies associated with perfectly conducting parallel plates. We here add further support to this conclusion by considering parallel semitransparent plates, that is, delta-function potentials, acting on a massless scalar field, in a spacetime defined by Rindler coordinates (tau,x,y,xi). Fixed xi in such a spacetime represents uniform acceleration. We calculate the force on systems consisting of one or two such plates at fixed values of xi. In the limit of large Rindler coordinate xi (small acceleration), we recover (via the equivalence principle) the situation of weak gravity, and find that the gravitational force on the system is just Mg, where g is the gravitational acceleration and M is the total mass of the system, consisting of the mass of the plates renormalized by the Casimir energy of each plate separately, plus the energy of the Casimir interaction between the plates. This reproduces the previous result in the limit as the coupling to the delta-function potential approaches infinity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

How Does Casimir Energy Fall?

Doubt continues to linger over the reality of quantum vacuum energy. There is some question whether fluctuating fields gravitate at all, or do so anomalously. Here we show that for the simple case of parallel conducting plates, the associated Casimir energy gravitates just as required by the equivalence principle, and that therefore the inertial and gravitational masses of a system possessing Casimir energy $E_c$ are both $E_c/c^2$. This simple result disproves recent claims in the literature. We clarify some pitfalls in the calculation that can lead to spurious dependences on coordinate system.

hep-th↗