A robust superconducting setup to probe the thermal Casimir effect

Area of Science:

• Condensed matter physics
• Quantum field theory

Background:

• The Casimir effect describes a quantum mechanical force arising from vacuum fluctuations.
• Distinguishing between thermal force models (Drude vs. plasma) is crucial for accurate Casimir force predictions.
• Previous theoretical proposals explored magnetic surfaces for Casimir force manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and analyze a superconducting Casimir apparatus for discriminating between thermal force models.
• To investigate the potential of a niobium-gold system for unambiguous model selection.

Main Methods:

• Designing a Casimir apparatus with a superconducting niobium sphere and a gold plate containing a superconducting niobium strip.
• Implementing a differential measurement of the Casimir force at two points on the gold plate.
• Theoretically computing Casimir force modulations using both Drude and plasma models for thermal effects.

Main Results:

• The superconducting system exhibits significantly different Casimir force modulations depending on the thermal force model used (Drude or plasma).
• The proposed experimental setup allows for a clear distinction between the predictions of the Drude and plasma models.

Conclusions:

• The superconducting Casimir apparatus provides a viable experimental pathway to unambiguously discriminate between the Drude and plasma models.
• This work advances the understanding and experimental verification of thermal effects in Casimir force measurements.