Quantum forces in cavities

Abstract

We present an alternative route to investigate quantum forces in a cavity, for both a free scalar field and a free fermionic field. Considering a generalized Matsubara procedure, we compute the quantum pressure on the boundaries of a compactified space in a thermal bath. Also, considering both periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions in the cavity, we discuss the attractive or repulsive character of the quantum forces. Our results highlight the relevance and interdisciplinarity of the generalized Matsubara procedure as a theoretical platform to manage quantum phenomena in nontrivial topologies.

Casimir Effect via a Generalized Matsubara Formalism

“…If we plot the ratio between the thermal radiation pressure for the massive scalar field (Equation (32)) and the massless one (Equation ( 33)), as a function of the dimensionless parameter mβ , the normalized thermal Casimir force per Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics unit area…”