HackerPapers

arXiv:hep-th/0503158hep-th

The Casimir Effect and the Quantum Vacuum

R. L. Jaffe

Abstract

In discussions of the cosmological constant, the Casimir effect is often invoked as decisive evidence that the zero point energies of quantum fields are "real''. On the contrary, Casimir effects can be formulated and Casimir forces can be computed without reference to zero point energies. They are relativistic, quantum forces between charges and currents. The Casimir force (per unit area) between parallel plates vanishes as α, the fine structure constant, goes to zero, and the standard result, which appears to be independent of α, corresponds to the α\to\infty limit.

arXiv comments
9 pages, 3 figures, uses aip class and the package floatftm to float text around figures
Journal reference
Phys.Rev. D72 (2005) 021301
DOI
doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.72.021301
Subjects
hep-thHigh Energy Physics, Theory astro-phAstrophysics hep-phHigh Energy Physics, Phenomenology quant-phQuantum Physics

On Hacker News

Linked by 3 identifiable commenters in 5 comments across 5 threads, from Mar 2019 to Oct 2025.

Comments linking this paper, per year.

Discussed in comments5 threads

  1. Science fiction's warp drive is speeding closer to reality 1 comment

    • Note the paper discusses some proposals of positive-energy warp drives. The well-known Alcubierre drive[1] requires negative energy density. So while it dodges the critique of this paper, negative energy is highly likely to be unphysical. And no, what Michio Kaku fantasized on…

      magicalhippoView on HNParent context

  2. Scientists may have discovered a flaw in their understanding of dark energy 1 comment

    • My posts had no deeper meaning. I personally don’t feel elegant mathematics really implies anything about the physical universe, but that doesn’t imply anything beyond the need for experimental evidence. > What model do you prefer for vacuum energy? The standard model seems fine…

      RetricView on HNParent context

  3. Numerics applied to Casimir geometry generates intersection with Alcubierre warp 1 comment

    • I was under the impression the paper by Jaffe[1] showed the negative energy explanation[2] was not physical, but totally not my field. [1]: https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0503158v1 [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect#Relativistic_va...

      magicalhippoView on HNParent context

  4. What Is a Particle? 1 comment

    • There are different explanations, but the original one (zero-point energy) is very heuristic, involving operations with infinity. There are more physical explanations in terms of physical EM interactions (van der Waals forces), see https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0503158.pdf

      posix_me_lessView on HNParent context

  5. Rotating Black Holes May Serve as Gentle Portals for Hyperspace Travel 1 comment

    • AFAIK the Casimir force is due to the van der Waals force between the plates, so doesn't that spoil the negative energy party from the get-go? https://arxiv.org/abs/1605.04143 https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0503158

      magicalhippoView on HNParent context

Submitted to Hacker News

Connected through shared HN threads, not inferred similarity or a recommendation.