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THE CASIMIR EFFECT
Physical Manifestations of Zero-Point Energy
by (University of Oklahoma, USA)
In its simplest manifestation, the Casimir effect is a quantum force of attraction between two parallel uncharged conducting plates. More generally, it refers to the interaction — which may be either attractive or repulsive — between material bodies due to quantum fluctuations in whatever fields are relevant. It is a local version of the van der Waals force between molecules. Its sweep ranges from perhaps its being the origin of the cosmological constant to its being responsible for the confinement of quarks. This monograph develops the theory of such forces, based primarily on physically transparent Green's function techniques, and makes applications from quarks to the cosmos, as well as observable consequences in condensed matter systems. It is aimed at graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, quantum field theory, and applied mathematics. |
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| Table of Contents | ||
| Readership: High-energy, condensed-matter and nuclear physicists. | ||
“The Casimir effect is about a lot more than a force between two metals plates, and Milton's book offers a great opportunity to read about it and learn the techniques by which it can be calculated … the book is very comprehensive, clearly written and filled with wonderful physics.” |
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CERN Courier |
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“Milton's attractively slim book will guide the serious beginner around the shoals, and its analytical rigor should also attract experienced theorists. It is appealing also in its unified approach, based mainly on Green's function methods that Milton and others developed in collaboration with Julian Schwinger.” |
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Physics Today |
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“Milton's monograph provides an outstanding review of the present state of the theory and applications of Casmir effects to diverse problems … Because of its clarity and advanced treatment, this book will likely stimulate the next stage in that development by opening a number of impenetrable fields to advanced students.” |
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American Journal of Physics |
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“This carefully written book gives a survey of the experimental and theoretical situation concerning the Casimir effect … All technical points are presented clearly and thoroughly. The book belongs on the shelf of anyone who wishes to make practical calculations involving the Casimir effect. The book contains an extensive bibliography. There are occasional historical notes as well. A graduate student or researcher would gain a good perspective of the role of the Casimir effect in physics from a reading.” |
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Mathematical Reviews |
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“Milton also tries to survey the field while emphasizing the Green's function technique in concrete calculations. In the past decades, he contributed in so many ways to our present understanding of the effect that the book more or less recounts his personal journey through the Casimir world.” |
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Zentralblatt MATH |
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| 320pp Pub. date: Oct 2001 | ||
| eISBN: 9789812810526 | ||
| Purchase book at WorldSciBook | ||
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