Physics:Quantum Casimir effect - Revision history

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	\|text=The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>		\|text=The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

	The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.		The effect is named after [[Biography:Hendrik Casimir\|Hendrik Casimir]], who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.
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	{{Quantum article nav\|previous=Physics:Quantum vacuum fluctuations\|previous label=Vacuum fluctuations\|next=Physics:Quantum Propagators in quantum field theory\|next label=Propagators in quantum field theory}}		{{Quantum article nav\|previous=Physics:Quantum vacuum fluctuations\|previous label=Vacuum fluctuations\|next=Physics:Quantum Propagators in quantum field theory\|next label=Propagators in quantum field theory}}
			\|image=[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|430px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]
	[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|~~thumb\|right\|320px~~\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]		\|text=The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

	The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

	The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.		The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.
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	== Vacuum modes ==		== Vacuum modes ==

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	{{Quantum article nav\|previous=Physics:Quantum vacuum fluctuations\|previous label=Vacuum fluctuations\|next=Physics:Quantum Propagators in quantum field theory\|next label=Propagators in quantum field theory}}		{{Quantum article nav\|previous=Physics:Quantum vacuum fluctuations\|previous label=Vacuum fluctuations\|next=Physics:Quantum Propagators in quantum field theory\|next label=Propagators in quantum field theory}}

	~~<div style="display~~:~~flex; gap:24px; align-items:flex-start; max-width:1280px; clear:both;">~~		[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|thumb\|right\|320px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]
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	The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>		The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

	The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.		The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.
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	~~[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|thumb\|360px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]~~
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	== Vacuum modes ==		== Vacuum modes ==

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	~~[[File~~:~~Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow~~.~~png\|thumb\|280px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]~~		<div style="display:flex; gap:24px; align-items:flex-start; max-width:1280px; clear:both;">
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	The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>		The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect \|title=Casimir effect \|publisher=Wikipedia \|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

	The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.		The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.
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			[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|thumb\|360px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]
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	== Vacuum modes ==		== Vacuum modes ==

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	[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|thumb\|280px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]		[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png\|thumb\|280px\|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]

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{{Short description|Attractive force caused by quantum vacuum fluctuations}}
{{Quantum book backlink|Quantum field theory}}

[[File:Quantum_casimir_effect_yellow.png|thumb|280px|Casimir effect from restricted vacuum modes between parallel plates.]]

The '''Quantum Casimir effect''' is a physical force that can arise between closely spaced conducting or dielectric objects because quantum vacuum fluctuations are modified by boundary conditions. The simplest ideal example is an attractive force between two parallel conducting plates in vacuum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect |title=Casimir effect |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>

The effect is named after Hendrik Casimir, who predicted it in 1948. It is often described as a consequence of the fact that the allowed electromagnetic field modes between the plates differ from those outside them.

== Vacuum modes ==
In [[Physics:Quantum field theory (QFT) basics|quantum field theory]], even the vacuum has fluctuating fields and zero-point energy. Boundaries restrict which modes can exist in a region. When the mode structure changes, the vacuum energy and stress can change as well.

The resulting force depends on geometry, material properties, separation distance, and temperature. Real experiments require careful treatment of finite conductivity, surface roughness, and electrostatic effects.

== Significance ==
The Casimir effect connects [[Physics:Quantum vacuum field|vacuum fields]], boundary conditions, and measurable forces. It is important in precision measurements, nanoscale devices, and conceptual discussions of vacuum energy.

It should not be confused with unlimited extraction of energy from the vacuum; the effect is a boundary-dependent force within ordinary quantum field theory.

== See also ==
* [[Physics:Quantum vacuum field]]
* [[Physics:Quantum zero-point energy]]
* [[Physics:Quantum electromagnetic field]]
* [[Physics:Quantum Boundary conditions and quantization]]

== References ==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Author|Harold Foppele}}

{{Sourceattribution|Physics:Quantum Casimir effect|1}}