Casimir-Lifshitz forces and torques

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dc.contributor.advisorMunday, Jeremy Nen_US
dc.contributor.authorSomers, David Andrew Templetonen_US
dc.contributor.departmentPhysicsen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-07T05:41:46Z
dc.date.available2018-09-07T05:41:46Z
dc.date.issued2018en_US
dc.description.abstractQuantum electromagnetic field fluctuations result in the well-documented Casimir-Lifshitz force between macroscopic objects. If the objects are anisotropic, theory predicts a corresponding Casimir-Lifshitz torque that causes the objects to rotate and align. In this work, we report the first measurements of the Casimir-Lifshitz torque, which confirm the predictions first made decades ago. The experimental design uses a nematic liquid crystal separated from a birefringent crystal by an isotropic Al2O3 layer with a thickness <nm. The molecular orientation of the liquid crystal is fixed with a rubbed counterplate, and, by varying the rubbing and Al2O3 thickness, we measured the Casimir-Lifshitz torque as a function of angle and distance. Along the way, we developed a simpler formulation for calculating the Casimir-Lifshitz interaction in planar systems, which facilitated further theoretical study of the Casimir-Lifshitz torque. Using this method, we outline the conditions for a repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz force between birefringent materials that would allow for an angularly-dependent sign of the force. We also report an unexpected enhancement of the torque from two sources: an intermediate dielectric medium and the finite speed of light.en_US
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.13016/M21N7XR06
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21160
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledPhysicsen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledElectromagneticsen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledQuantum physicsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledCasimiren_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledCasimir-Lifshitzen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledliquid crystalsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledtorqueen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledvan der Waalsen_US
dc.titleCasimir-Lifshitz forces and torquesen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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