Theory 10/Physics, Cosmos & Matter /Quantum vacuum
Casimir Forces Feel Patchiness
Discrepancies are attributed to material properties. They may be about how the surface is organised.
Deviations from the ideal Casimir force are set by the correlation length of surface patches rather than by the materials, so two surfaces of identical composition can differ in force if their patch structure differs.
01The evidence
Measured Casimir forces deviate from theory by amounts that vary between samples in ways not explained by dielectric data.
02The tension
Models use bulk dielectric functions and treat surfaces as uniform. Patch structure is not represented.
03The mechanism
A real surface has patches of adsorbate, oxide and crystal face, each with a different plasma frequency. The force integrates over the patch distribution, and correlation between patches changes the result.
That makes the patch correlation length the variable, and predicts force deviations should track it rather than composition.
04What this is not
Those models assume uniformity. This accounts for patch correlations, which explain sample-to-sample variation.
05Predictions
- P1Deviations should track patch correlation length.
- P2Identical composition should give different forces.
- P3Annealing should reduce deviation.
06Refutation
Deviations explained by dielectric data alone would remove the patch effect.
07What it changes
It would change Casimir metrology.