arXiv subjects

R. L. Jaffe

Publications and source records attributed to R. L. Jaffe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2011

Casimir forces beyond the proximity approximation

The proximity force approximation (PFA) relates the interaction between closely spaced, smoothly curved objects to the force between parallel plates. Precision experiments on Casimir forces necessitate, and spur research on, corrections to the PFA. We use a derivative expansion for gently curved surfaces to derive the leading curvature modifications to the PFA. Our methods apply to any homogeneous and isotropic materials; here we present results for Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions and for perfect conductors. A Padé extrapolation constrained by a multipole expansion at large distance and our improved expansion at short distances, provides an accurate expression for the sphere-plate Casimir force at all separations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Reflection above the barrier as tunneling in momentum space

Quantum mechanics predicts an exponentially small probability that a particle with energy greater than the height of a potential barrier will nevertheless reflect from the barrier in violation of classical expectations. This process can be regarded as tunneling in momentum space, leading to a simple derivation of the reflection probability.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Casimir manipulations: The orientation dependence of fluctuation-induced forces

The Casimir interaction between two objects, or between an object and a plane, depends on their relative orientations. We make these angular dependences explicit by considering prolate or oblate spheroids. The variation with orientation is calculated exactly at asymptotically large distances for the electromagnetic field, and at arbitrary separations for a scalar field. For a spheroid in front of a mirror, the leading term is orientation independent, and we find the optimal orientation from computations at higher order.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Casimir Forces in a Piston Geometry at Zero and Finite Temperatures

We study Casimir forces on the partition in a closed box (piston) with perfect metallic boundary conditions. Related closed geometries have generated interest as candidates for a repulsive force. By using an optical path expansion we solve exactly the case of a piston with a rectangular cross section, and find that the force always attracts the partition to the nearest base. For arbitrary cross sections, we can use an expansion for the density of states to compute the force in the limit of small height to width ratios. The corrections to the force between parallel plates are found to have interesting dependence on the shape of the cross section. Finally, for temperatures in the range of experimental interest we compute finite temperature corrections to the force (again assuming perfect boundaries).

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Casimir forces between arbitrary compact objects: Scalar and electromagnetic field

We develop an exact method for computing the Casimir energy between arbitrary compact objects, both with boundary conditions for a scalar field and dielectrics or perfect conductors for the electromagnetic field. The energy is obtained as an interaction between multipoles, generated by quantum source or current fluctuations. The objects' shape and composition enter only through their scattering matrices. The result is exact when all multipoles are included, and converges rapidly. A low frequency expansion yields the energy as a series in the ratio of the objects' size to their separation. As examples, we obtain this series for two spheres with Robin boundary conditions for a scalar field and dielectric spheres for the electromagnetic field. The full interaction at all separations is obtained for spheres with Robin boundary conditions and for perfectly conducting spheres.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Casimir Forces between Compact Objects: I. The Scalar Case

We have developed an exact, general method to compute Casimir interactions between a finite number of compact objects of arbitrary shape and separation. Here, we present details of the method for a scalar field to illustrate our approach in its most simple form; the generalization to electromagnetic fields is outlined in Ref. [1]. The interaction between the objects is attributed to quantum fluctuations of source distributions on their surfaces, which we decompose in terms of multipoles. A functional integral over the effective action of multipoles gives the resulting interaction. Each object's shape and boundary conditions enter the effective action only through its scattering matrix. Their relative positions enter through universal translation matrices that depend only on field type and spatial dimension. The distinction of our method from the pairwise summation of two-body potentials is elucidated in terms of the scattering processes between three objects. To illustrate the power of the technique, we consider Robin boundary conditions $ϕ-λ\partial_n ϕ=0$, which interpolate between Dirichlet and Neumann cases as $λ$ is varied. We obtain the interaction between two such spheres analytically in a large separation expansion, and numerically for all separations. The cases of unequal radii and unequal $λ$ are studied. We find sign changes in the force as a function of separation in certain ranges of $λ$ and see deviations from the proximity force approximation even at short separations, most notably for Neumann boundary conditions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Casimir forces between arbitrary compact objects

We develop an exact method for computing the Casimir energy between arbitrary compact objects, either dielectrics or perfect conductors. The energy is obtained as an interaction between multipoles, generated by quantum current fluctuations. The objects' shape and composition enter only through their scattering matrices. The result is exact when all multipoles are included, and converges rapidly. A low frequency expansion yields the energy as a series in the ratio of the objects' size to their separation. As an example, we obtain this series for two dielectric spheres and the full interaction at all separations for perfectly conducting spheres.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Ordinary and Extraordinary Hadrons

Resonances and enhancements in meson-meson scattering can be divided into two classes distinguished by their behavior as the number of colors N_c in QCD becomes large: The first are ordinary mesons that become stable as N_c goes to infinity. This class includes textbook q-bar q mesons as well as glueballs and hybrids. The second class, extraordinary mesons, are enhancements that disappear as N_c goes to infinity; they subside into the hadronic continuum. This class includes indistinct and controversial objects that have been classified as q-bar q-bar q q mesons or meson-meson molecules. Pelaez's study of the N_c dependence of unitarized chiral dynamics illustrates both classes: the p-wave pi-pi and K-pi resonances, the rho(770) and K*(892), behave as ordinary mesons; the s-wave pi-pi and K-pi enhancements, the sigma(600) and kappa(800), behave like extraordinary mesons. Ordinary mesons resemble Feshbach resonances while extraordinary mesons look more like effects due to potentials in meson-meson scattering channels. I build and explore toy models along these lines. Finally I discuss some related dynamical issues affecting the interpretation of extraordinary mesons.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Parity Doubling Among the Baryons

We study the evidence for and possible origins of parity doubling among the baryons. First we explore the experimental evidence, finding a significant signal for parity doubling in the non-strange baryons, but little evidence among strange baryons. Next we discuss potential explanations for this phenomenon. Possibilities include suppression of the violation of the flavor singlet axial symmetry ($U(1)_{A}$) of QCD, which is broken by the triangle anomaly and by quark masses. A conventional Wigner-Weyl realization of the $SU(2)_{L}\times SU(2)_{R}$ chiral symmetry would also result in parity doubling. However this requires the suppression of families of \emph{chirally invariant} operators by some other dynamical mechanism. In this scenario the parity doubled states should decouple from pions. We discuss other explanations including connections to chiral invariant short distance physics motivated by large $N_{c}$ arguments as suggested by Shifman and others, and intrinsic deformation of relatively rigid highly excited hadrons, leading to parity doubling on the leading Regge trajectory. Finally we review the spectroscopic consequences of chiral symmetry using a formalism introduced by Weinberg, and use it to describe two baryons of opposite parity.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Attractive Casimir Forces in a Closed Geometry

We study the Casimir force acting on a conducting piston with arbitrary cross section. We find the exact solution for a rectangular cross section and the first three terms in the asymptotic expansion for small height to width ratio when the cross section is arbitrary. Though weakened by the presence of the walls, the Casimir force turns out to be always attractive. Claims of repulsive Casimir forces for related configurations, like the cube, are invalidated by cutoff dependence.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Casimir interaction between a plate and a cylinder

We find the exact Casimir force between a plate and a cylinder, a geometry intermediate between parallel plates, where the force is known exactly, and the plate--sphere, where it is known at large separations. The force has an unexpectedly weak decay \sim L/(H^3 \ln(H/R)) at large plate--cylinder separations H (L and R are the cylinder length and radius), due to transverse magnetic modes. Path integral quantization with a partial wave expansion additionally gives a qualitative difference for the density of states of electric and magnetic modes, and corrections at finite temperatures.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

The Casimir Energy for a Hyperboloid Facing a Plate in the Optical Approximation

We study the Casimir energy of a massless scalar field that obeys Dirichlet boundary conditions on a hyperboloid facing a plate. We use the optical approximation including the first six reflections and compare the results with the predictions of the proximity force approximation and the semi-classical method. We also consider finite size effects by contrasting the infinite with a finite plate. We find sizable and qualitative differences between the new optical method and the more traditional approaches.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Casimir Effects: an Optical Approach II. Local Observables and Thermal Corrections

We recently proposed a new approach to the Casimir effect based on classical ray optics (the "optical approximation"). In this paper we show how to use it to calculate the local observables of the field theory. In particular we study the energy-momentum tensor and the Casimir pressure. We work three examples in detail: parallel plates, the Casimir pendulum and a sphere opposite a plate. We also show how to calculate thermal corrections, proving that the high temperature `classical limit' is indeed valid for any smooth geometry.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Casimir buoyancy

We study the Casimir force on a single surface immersed in an inhomogeneous medium. Specifically we study the vacuum fluctuations of a scalar field with a spatially varying squared mass, $m^{2}+λΔ(x-a)+V(x)$, where $V$ is a smooth potential and $Δ(x)$ is a unit-area function sharply peaked around $x=0$. $Δ(x-a)$ represents a semi-penetrable thin plate placed at $x=a$. In the limits $\{Δ(x-a)\toδ(x-a), λ\to\infty \}$ the scalar field obeys a Dirichlet boundary condition, $ϕ=0$, at $x=a$. We formulate the problem in general and solve it in several approximations and specific cases. In all the cases we have studied we find that the Casimir force on the plate points in the direction opposite to the force on the quanta of $ϕ$: it pushes the plate toward higher potential, hence our use of the term buoyancy. We investigate Casimir buoyancy for weak, reflectionless, or smooth $V(x)$, and for several explicitly solvable examples. In the semiclassical approximation, which seems to be quite useful and accurate, the Casimir buoyancy is a local function of $V(a)$. We extend our analysis to the analogous problem in $n$-dimensions with $n-1$ translational symmetries, where Casimir divergences become more severe. We also extend the analysis to non-zero temperatures.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

The Casimir Effect and the Quantum Vacuum

In discussions of the cosmological constant, the Casimir effect is often invoked as decisive evidence that the zero point energies of quantum fields are "real''. On the contrary, Casimir effects can be formulated and Casimir forces can be computed without reference to zero point energies. They are relativistic, quantum forces between charges and currents. The Casimir force (per unit area) between parallel plates vanishes as α, the fine structure constant, goes to zero, and the standard result, which appears to be independent of α, corresponds to the α\to\infty limit.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Implications of the Present Bound on the Width of the Theta(1540)

The recently reported Theta(1540) exotic baryon seems to be very narrow: Gamma(Theta)< 1 MeV according to some analyses. Using methods of low energy scattering theory, we develop expectations for the width of the Theta, an elastic resonance in KN scattering in a theory where the characteristic range of interactions is ~1 Fermi. If the Theta is a potential scattering resonance, generated by the forces in the KN channel, its width is hard to account for unless the KN-channel orbital angular momentum, l, is two or greater. If the Theta is a CDD pole, its coupling to the scattering channel is at least an order of magnitude less than the coupling of the Lambda(1520) unless l is two or greater. Either way, if the Theta proves to be in the KN s- or p-wave, new physics must be responsible for its narrow width.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Exotica

The first evidence for Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the theory of the strong interactions, came from the systematics of baryon and meson spectroscopy. An important early observation was the apparent absence of exotics, baryons requiring more than three quarks or mesons requiring more than quark-antiquark. Years later, QCD is well established, hadron spectroscopy has been relatively inactive, but the absence of exotics remains poorly understood. The recent observation of narrow, prominent exotic baryons has stirred up new interest in hadron spectroscopy. At present the experimental situation is confused; so is theory. The recent discoveries are striking. So too is the complete absence of exotic mesons, and, except for the recent discoveries, of exotic baryons as well. Whether or not the new states are confirmed, the way we look at complicated states of confined quarks and gluons has changed. Perhaps the most lasting result, and the one emphasized in these notes, is a new appreciation for the role of diquark correlations in QCD.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Casimir Effects: An Optical Approach I. Foundations and Examples

We present the foundations of a new approach to the Casimir effect based on classical ray optics. We show that a very useful approximation to the Casimir force between arbitrarily shaped smooth conductors can be obtained from knowledge of the paths of light rays that originate at points between these bodies and close on themselves. Although an approximation, the optical method is exact for flat bodies, and is surprisingly accurate and versatile. In this paper we present a self-contained derivation of our approximation, discuss its range of validity and possible improvements, and work out three examples in detail. The results are in excellent agreement with recent precise numerical analysis for the experimentally interesting configuration of a sphere opposite an infinite plane.

quant-ph↗