Casimir interaction from magnetically coupled eddy currents.
We study the quantum and thermal fluctuations of eddy (Foucault) currents in thick metallic plates. A Casimir interaction between two plates arises from the coupling via quasistatic magnetic fields. As a function of distance, the relevant eddy current modes cross over from a quantum to a thermal regime. These modes alone reproduce previously discussed thermal anomalies of the electromagnetic Casimir interaction between good conductors. In particular, they provide a physical picture for the Casimir entropy whose nonzero value at zero temperature arises from a correlated, glassy state.
Intravaia
Francesco
F
Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
Henkel
Carsten
C