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Serge Reynaud

Publications and source records attributed to Serge Reynaud.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Post-Einsteinian tests of gravitation

Einstein gravitation theory can be extended by preserving its geometrical nature but changing the relation between curvature and energy-momentum tensors. This change accounts for radiative corrections, replacing the Newton gravitation constant by two running couplings which depend on scale and differ in the two sectors of traceless and traced tensors. The metric and curvature tensors in the field of the Sun, which were obtained in previous papers within a linearized approximation, are then calculated without this restriction. Modifications of gravitational effects on geodesics are then studied, allowing one to explore phenomenological consequences of extensions lying in the vicinity of general relativity. Some of these extended theories are able to account for the Pioneer anomaly while remaining compatible with tests involving the motion of planets. The PPN Ansatz corresponds to peculiar extensions of general relativity which do not have the ability to meet this compatibility challenge.

gr-qc↗

Casimir effect with rough metallic mirrors

We calculate the second order roughness correction to the Casimir energy for two parallel metallic mirrors. Our results may also be applied to the plane-sphere geometry used in most experiments. The metallic mirrors are described by the plasma model, with arbitrary values for the plasma wavelength, the mirror separation and the roughness correlation length, with the roughness amplitude remaining the smallest length scale for perturbation theory to hold. From the analysis of the intracavity field fluctuations, we obtain the Casimir energy correction in terms of generalized reflection operators, which account for diffraction and polarization coupling in the scattering by the rough surfaces. We present simple analytical expressions for several limiting cases, as well as numerical results that allow for a reliable calculation of the roughness correction in real experiments. The correction is larger than the result of the Proximity Force Approximation, which is obtained from our theory as a limiting case (very smooth surfaces).

quant-ph↗

Post-Einsteinian tests of linearized gravitation

The general relativistic treatment of gravitation can be extended by preserving the geometrical nature of the theory but modifying the form of the coupling between curvature and stress tensors. The gravitation constant is thus replaced by two running coupling constants which depend on scale and differ in the sectors of traceless and traced tensors. When calculated in the solar system in a linearized approximation, the metric is described by two gravitation potentials. This extends the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) phenomenological framework while allowing one to preserve compatibility with gravity tests performed in the solar system. Consequences of this extension are drawn here for phenomena correctly treated in the linear approximation. We obtain a Pioneer-like anomaly for probes with an eccentric motion as well as a range dependence of Eddington parameter $γ$ to be seen in light deflection experiments.

gr-qc↗

Gravity tests in the solar system and the Pioneer anomaly

We build up a new phenomenological framework associated with a minimal generalization of Einsteinian gravitation theory. When linearity, stationarity and isotropy are assumed, tests in the solar system are characterized by two potentials which generalize respectively the Newton potential and the parameter $γ$ of parametrized post-Newtonian formalism. The new framework seems to have the capability to account for the Pioneer anomaly besides other gravity tests.

gr-qc↗

Testing the Newton law at long distances

Experimental tests of Newton law put stringent constraints on potential deviations from standard theory with ranges from the millimeter to the size of planetary orbits. Windows however remain open for short range deviations, below the millimeter, as well as long range ones, of the order of or larger than the size of the solar system. We discuss here the relation between long range tests of the Newton law and the anomaly recorded on Pioneer 10/11 probes.

gr-qc↗

Roughness correction to the Casimir force : Beyond the Proximity Force Approximation

We calculate the roughness correction to the Casimir effect in the parallel plates geometry for metallic plates described by the plasma model. The calculation is perturbative in the roughness amplitude with arbitrary values for the plasma wavelength, the plate separation and the roughness correlation length. The correction is found to be always larger than the result obtained in the Proximity Force Approximation.

quant-ph↗

Electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations, Casimir and Van der Waals forces

Electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations have observable consequences, like the Casimir force between mirrors in vacuum. This force is now measured with good accuracy and agreement with theory when the effect of imperfect reflection of mirrors is properly taken into account. We discuss the simple case of bulk metallic mirrors described by a plasma model and show that simple scaling laws are obtained at the limits of long and short distances. The crossover between the short and long-distance laws is quite similar to the crossover between Van der Waals and Casimir-Polder forces for two atoms in vacuum. The result obtained at short distances can be understood as the London interaction between plasmon excitations at the surface of each bulk mirror.

quant-ph↗

The Casimir force between real mirrors at non zero temperature

The Casimir force between dissipative metallic mirrors at non zero temperature has recently given rise to contradictory claims which have raised doubts about the theoretical expression of the force. In order to contribute to the resolution of this difficulty, we come back to the derivation of the force from basic principles of the quantum theory of lossy optical cavities. We obtain an expression which is valid for arbitrary mirrors, including dissipative ones, characterized by frequency dependent reflection amplitudes.

quant-ph↗

HYPER and gravitational decoherence

We study the decoherence process associated with the scattering of stochastic backgrounds of gravitational waves. We show that it has a negligible influence on HYPER-like atomic interferometers although it may dominate decoherence of macroscopic motions, such as the planetary motion of the Moon around the Earth.

quant-ph↗

The Casimir force between rough metallic plates

The Casimir force between two metallic plates is affected by their roughness state. This effect is usually calculated through the so-called `proximity force approximation' which is only valid for small enough wavevectors in the spectrum of the roughness profile. We introduce here a more general description with a wavevector-dependent roughness sensitivity of the Casimir effect. Since the proximity force approximation underestimates the effect, a measurement of the roughness spectrum is needed to achieve the desired level of accuracy in the theory-experiment comparison.

quant-ph↗

The Casimir force and the quantum theory of lossy optical cavities

We present a new derivation of the Casimir force between two parallel plane mirrors at zero temperature. The two mirrors and the cavity they enclose are treated as quantum optical networks. They are in general lossy and characterized by frequency dependent reflection amplitudes. The additional fluctuations accompanying losses are deduced from expressions of the optical theorem. A general proof is given for the theorem relating the spectral density inside the cavity to the reflection amplitudes seen by the inner fields. This density determines the vacuum radiation pressure and, therefore, the Casimir force. The force is obtained as an integral over the real frequencies, including the contribution of evanescent waves besides that of ordinary waves, and, then, as an integral over imaginary frequencies. The demonstration relies only on general properties obeyed by real mirrors which also enforce general constraints for the variation of the Casimir force.

quant-ph↗

Casimir effect and vacuum energy

Vacuum fluctuations have observable consequences, like the Casimir force appearing between two mirrors in vacuum. This force is now measured with good accuracy and agreement with theory. We discuss the meaning and consequences of these statements by emphasizing their relation with the problem of vacuum energy, one of the main unsolved problems at the interface between gravitational and quantum theory.

quant-ph↗

Gravitational decoherence of atomic interferometers

We study the decoherence of atomic interferometers due to the scattering of stochastic gravitational waves. We evaluate the `direct' gravitational effect registered by the phase of the matter waves as well as the `indirect' effect registered by the light waves used as beam-splitters and mirrors for the matter waves. Considering as an example the space project HYPER, we show that both effects are negligible for the presently studied interferometers.

quant-ph↗

Correlation between plasma and temperature corrections to the Casimir force

When comparing experimental results with theoretical predictions of the Casimir force, the accuracy of the theory is as important as the precision of experiments. Here we evaluate the Casimir force when finite conductivity of the reflectors and finite temperature are simultaneously taken into account. We show that these two corrections are correlated, i.e. that they can not, in principle, be evaluated separately and simply multiplied. We estimate the correlation factor which measures the deviation from this common approximation. We focus our attention on the case of smooth and plane plates with a metallic optical response modeled by a plasma model.

quant-ph↗

Decoherence and gravitational backgrounds

We study the decoherence process associated with the scattering of stochastic gravitational waves. We discuss the case of macroscopic systems, such as the planetary motion of the Moon around the Earth, for which gravitational scattering is found to dominate decoherence though it has a negligible influence on damping. This contrast is due to the very high effective temperature of the background of gravitational waves in our galactic environment.

gr-qc↗

Thermal and quantum noise in active systems

We present a quantum network approach to the treatment of thermal and quantum fluctuations in measurement devices. The measurement is described as a scattering process of input fluctuations towards output ones. We present the results obtained with this method for the treatment of a cold damped capacitive accelerometer.

quant-ph↗

Quantum non ideal measurements

We analyse non ideal quantum measurements described as scattering processes providing an estimator of the measured quantity. The sensitivity is expressed as an equivalent input noise. We address the Von Neumann problem of chained measurements and show the crucial role of preamplification.

quant-ph↗