Transition from Casimir to van der Waals force between macroscopic bodies

Abstract

The transition of van der Waals to Casimir forces between macroscopic gold surfaces is investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy in the plane-sphere geometry. It was found that the transition appears to take place at separations about 10 % the plasma wavelength for evaporated gold surfaces, which compares to theoretical predictions by incorporation of experimental optical data and roughness corrections. Moreover, the force data allow estimation of the Hamaker constant AH in the van der Waals regime, which is in good agreement with the Lifshitz theory predictions (even if roughness corrections are taken into account) and former surface force apparatus measurements.

12 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (10)

• Improved Precision Measurement of the Casimir Force Using Gold Surfaces
• The Casimir Effect and the Quantum Vacuum
• Template-stripped gold surfaces with 0.4 nm rms roughness suitable for force measurements. Application to the Casimir force in the 20-100 nm range
• Casimir force between metallic mirrors
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• Casimir effect with rough metallic mirrors
• Influence of random roughness on the Casimir force at small separations
• Casimir forces and non-Newtonian gravitation
• Measurement of dispersive forces between evaporated metal surfaces in the range below 100 nm
• Roughness corrections to the Casimir force: The importance of local surface slope

Cited by in corpus (14)

• Scattering Theory Approach to Electrodynamic Casimir Forces
• Roughness correction to the Casimir force at short separations: Contact distance and extreme value statistics
• Radiative heat transfer and nonequilibrium Casimir-Lifshitz force in many-body systems with planar geometry
• Classical and fluctuation-induced electromagnetic interactions in micronscale systems: designer bonding, antibonding, and Casimir forces
• Retardation turns the van der Waals attraction into Casimir repulsion already at 3 nm
• Three-body Casimir effects and non-monotonic forces
• Influence of water adsorbed on gold on van der Waals/Casimir forces
• Large temperature dependence of the Casimir force at the metal-insulator transition
• Global consequences of a local Casimir force: Adhered cantilever
• Geometry and material effects in Casimir physics - Scattering theory
• Something Can Come of Nothing: Surface Approaches to Quantum Fluctuations and the Casimir Force
• Electrically switchable Casimir forces using transparent conductive oxides
• Analytical theory for the crossover from retarded to non-retarded interactions between metal plates
• Precise Fabrication of Uniform Molecular Gaps for Active Nanoscale Devices