Search

We reconsider the composite string model introduced {30 years ago} to study the vacuum energy. The model consists of a scalar field, describing the transversal vibrations of a string consisting of piecewise constant sections with different tensions and mass densities, keeping the speed of light constant across the junctions. We consider the spectrum using transfer matrices and Chebyshev polynomials to get a closed formula for the eigenfrequencies. We calculate vacuum and free energy as well as the entropy of this system in two approaches, one using contour integration and another one using a Hurwitz zeta function. The latter results in a representation in terms of finite sums over polynomials. Several limiting cases are considered as well, for instance, the high-temperature expansion, which is expressed in terms of the heat kernel coefficients. The vacuum energy has no ultraviolet divergences, and the corresponding heat kernel coefficient $a_1$ is zero due to the constancy of the speed of light. This is in parallel to a similar situation in macroscopic electrodynamics with isorefractive boundary conditions., Comment: 12 pages

We study the spectrum of the 1D Dirac Hamiltonian encompassing the bound and scattering states of a fermion distorted by a static background built from $\delta$-function potentials. We distinguish between "mass-spike" and "electrostatic" $\delta$-potentials. Differences in the spectra arising depending on the type of $\delta$-potential studied are thoroughly explored., Comment: 18 pages and 4 figures. Submitted for publication; We have corrected some typos added one new figure and changed the plots for the charge density, as well as added 5 extra references

We consider the Casimir effect for a scalar field interacting with another scalar field that is confined to two half spaces. This model is aimed to mimic the interaction of the photon field with matter in two slabs. We use Dirichlet boundary conditions on the interfaces for the fields in the half spaces and calculate their one-loop contribution to the wave equation for the other field. We perform the ultraviolet renormalization and develop a convenient formalism for the calculation of the vacuum energy in this configuration., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures

We consider polarizable sheets, which recently received some attention, especially in context of the dispersion interaction of thin sheets like graphene. These sheets are modeled by a collection of delta function potentials and resemble "zero range potentials", known in quantum mechanics. We develop a theoretical description and apply the so-called "TGTG"-formula to calculate the interaction of two such lattices. Thereby we make use of the formulation of the scattering of waves off such sheets provided earlier. We consider all limiting cases, providing link to earlier results. Also, we discuss the relation to the pairwise summation method., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures

Within the Dirac model for the electronic excitations of graphene, we calculate the full polarization tensor with finite mass and chemical potential. It has, besides the (00)-component, a second form factor, which must be accounted for. We obtain explicit formulas for both form factors and for the reflection coefficients. Using these, we discuss the regions in the momentum-frequency plane where plasmons may exist and give numeric solutions for the plasmon dispersion relations. It turns out that plasmons exist for both, TE and TM polarizations over the whole range of the ratio of mass to chemical potential, except for zero chemical potential, where only a TE plasmon exists., Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, some misprints corrected

The Lifshitz formula is derived by making use of the spectral summation method which is a mathematically rigorous simultaneous application of both the mode-by-mode summation technique and scattering formalism. The contributions to the Casimir energy of electromagnetic excitations of different types (surface modes, waveguide modes, and photonic modes) are clearly retraced. A correct transition to imaginary frequencies is accomplished with allowance for all the peculiarities of the frequency equations and pertinent scattering data in the complex $\omega $ plane, including, in particular, the cuts connecting the branch points and complex roots of the frequency equations (quasi-normal modes). The principal novelty of our approach is a special choice of appropriate passes in the contour integrals, which are used for transition to imaginary frequencies. As a result, the long standing problem of cuts in the complex $\omega $ plane is solved completely. Inconsistencies of some previous derivations of the Lifshitz formula are traced briefly. For completeness of the presentation, the necessary mathematical facts are also stated, namely, solution of the Maxwell equations for configurations under consideration, scattering formalism for parallel plane interfaces, determination of the frequency equation roots, and others., Comment: The version published in Phys. Rev. A 86, 052503 (2012); criticism of some previous derivations of the Lifshitz formula is diminished (Introduction) and emphasizing the authors achievements (Conclusion) is moderated

The violation of the third law of thermodynamics for metals described by the Drude model and for dielectrics with finite \DC conductivity is one of the most interesting problems in the field of the Casimir effect. It manifests itself as a non-vanishing of the entropy for vanishing temperature. We review the relevant calculations for plane surfaces and calculate the corresponding contributions for a ball in front of a plane. In this geometry, these appear in much the same way as for parallel planes. We conclude that the violation of the 3rd law is not related to the infinite size of the planes., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, references added, submitted to Phys.Rev.D

We calculate the low temperature corrections to the free energy for a sphere in front of a plane. First, the scalar field obeying Dirichet or Neumann boundary conditions is considered. Second, the electromagnetic field is studied, the sphere being perfectly conducting and being a dielectric ball with both, constant permittivity and permittivity of the plasma model., Comment: Submitted to the proceedings of the Workshop "Cosmology, Quantum Vacuum and Zeta Functions", Universitat Aut\`onoma de Barcelona, 8-10th March, 2010; 12 pages, 5 figures

We consider the Casimir effect for a sphere in front of a plane at finite temperature for scalar and electromagnetic fields and calculate the limiting cases. For small separation we compare the exact results with the corresponding ones obtained in proximity force approximation. For the scalar field with Dirichlet boundary conditions, the low temperature correction is of order $T^2$ like for parallel planes. For the electromagnetic field it is of order $T^4$. For high temperature we observe the usual picture that the leading order is given by the zeroth Matsubara frequency. The non-zero frequencies are exponentially suppressed except for the case of close separation., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, revised version with several improvements

We investigate the Casimir force between two dissimilar plane mirrors the material properties of which are described by Drude or Lorentz models. We calculate analytically the short and long distance asymptote of the force and relate its behavior to the influence of interacting surface plasmons. In particular we discuss conditions under which Casimir repulsion could be achieved., Comment: 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. A