QED says that vacuum in not empty but full with fluctuating EM fields
E   / 2
or "vacuum fluctuations” with energy
E  t

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
H. Casimir (1948) ….Perfectly reflecting plates………….
d
1909-2000
First high accuracy measurement in 1997 by S. Lamoreaux
ri: Fresnel reflection coefficients for s (TE mode) & p (TM mode) polarization
CASIMIR: Aims to foster European/pan-European collaborations in Casimir physics
58 participating research groups / 11 different countries
A dynamic forum for quick and efficient exchange by:
• Integrating and disseminating by the exchange of junior researchers and students
between research groups via short visit or exchange grants
• Facilitating the smooth exchange of new ideas
• Providing interdisciplinary training and foster collaboration by creating links with
leading groups in different areas of adjacent communities
• Providing transmission of new concepts and techniques from research frontiers to
the basic training level by organising science meetings
Short visit grants:
Exchange grants:
4 in 2008,
1 in 2008,
science meetings:
6
Scientific publications: > 200
12 in 2009,
4 in 2009,
12 in 2010
2 in 2010
Casimir effect: measurement
and theory
Casimir force in complex geometries
and novel topologies: control of Casimir force &
applications to MEMS/NEMS; patterned or corrugated
surfaces, nanospheres, small spheroïd shaped bodies,
edge effects, vacuum torques, beyond proximity force
approximation (PFA) measurements and calculations.
New materials and their optical
properties: Carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles,
metamaterials, quasicrystals, superconductors, photonic
crystals, phase change materials
Repulsive and lateral Casimir forces
Thermal Casimir effects
Applications in nanophysics,
biophysics, and disordered systems
Challenges in vacuum
properties
Casimir effect, vacuum
energy, gravity and cosmology
Casimir effect and tests of the
equivalence principle
Dynamical Casimir effect
Related Casimir topics
Critical Casimir Forces
Dispersion forces in liquids
Casimir Polder interaction with BEC and molecules
Quantum friction and Casimir momentum
Popularity of QED fluctuations (both experiment and theory)
Connect Casimir effect with world (Nanotechnology & fundamental physics)
Casimir-Polder effect
Drude – Plasma model discrepancy in relation to existing/new force data
Casimir repulsive forces
Biology and dispersion forces (biomolecule recognition by selective van der
Waals/Casimir dispersion forces)
Calculations and applications of Casimir dispersive forces
Electrostatics – patch effects on contact potentials
Nanoparticles & size effects on dispersion forces
van der Waals/Gecko superadhesion for various types of rough surfaces
and applications to robots, superadhesive tapes etc…
Investigation of vacuum energy in quantum field theory with applications to
QCD and cosmology
Relation of Casimir effect to industry (develop further present industrial
contacts) and impact on economy
More workshops/schools & focus on 2-3 topical meetings /year
Geometry –size effects & experiments
PRL 2009
PRL 2010
EPL 2009, Eur.P. News 2009
MEMSlateral Casimir- contactless motion
Metamaterials repulsive forces
Au nanoscale split-ring resonators
PRA (RC) 2010
Phase change materials (PCM): AIST system
Measuring device: AC states
Proof-of-concept device
Dissimilar systems: Au-HOPG
Eur. Lett. 2010
%
Exp.
Quantum (van der Waals) Friction
Theory
Friction coefficient between
two graphene sheets
PRL 2011
Repulsion-Attraction in liquids
Repulsion
Attraction
Attraction
 repulsion
PRA 2010
PRE, PRB 2009
Dynamical Casimir
► Simulate a mirror motion by changing
mirror reflectivity
► The semiconductor reflectivity is driven
by laser irradiation  mirror switches from
completely transparent to completely
reflective (for microwaves)
Padova experiment
►CASIMIR program has developed rapidly almost doubling size & more
than 200 publications
► Novel experiments concerning the static or dynamic Casimir effect
have been developed by groups (AFM, MEMS)
► Casimir force calculations using numerous different methods
► Research efforts have been strongly supported by short visits,
exchange grants and science meetings
► More science meetings are planned for the remaining years
► Try to establish strong links with industry and contribute to the
broader EU economy
► CASIMIR is part of several activities within EU & national programs,
and international collaborations with “Americas”