Observation and control of Casimir effects in a sphere-plate-sphere system

Zhujing Xu, Peng Ju, Xingyu Gao, Kunhong Shen, Zubin Jacob and Tongcang Li ()
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Zhujing Xu: Purdue University
Peng Ju: Purdue University
Xingyu Gao: Purdue University
Kunhong Shen: Purdue University
Zubin Jacob: Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University
Tongcang Li: Purdue University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract A remarkable prediction of quantum field theory is that there are quantum electromagnetic fluctuations (virtual photons) everywhere, which leads to the intriguing Casimir effect. While the Casimir force between two objects has been studied extensively for several decades, the Casimir force between three objects has not been measured yet. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of an object under the Casimir force exerted by two other objects simultaneously. Our Casimir system consists of a micrometer-thick cantilever placed in between two microspheres, forming a unique sphere-plate-sphere geometry. We also propose and demonstrate a three-terminal switchable architecture exploiting opto-mechanical Casimir interactions that can lay the foundations of a Casimir transistor. Beyond the paradigm of Casimir forces between two objects in different geometries, our Casimir transistor represents an important development for controlling three-body virtual photon interactions and will have potential applications in sensing and information processing.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33915-4

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