Long-range magnetic interaction due to the Casimir effect.
The zero-point quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field in vacuum are known to give rise to a long-range attractive force between metal plates (Casimir effect). For ferromagnetic layers separated by vacuum, it is shown that the interplay of the Casimir effect and of the magneto-optical Kerr effect gives rise to a long-range magnetic interaction. The Casimir magnetic force is found to decay as D-1 in the limit of short distances, and as D-5 in the limit of long distances. Explicit expressions for realistic systems are given in the large- and small-distance limits. An experimental test of the Casimir magnetic interaction is proposed.
Bruno
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Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany.