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arXiv:2403.06051

Observation of non-contact Casimir friction

Zhujing Xu, Ju, Peng, Kunhong Shen, Yuanbin Jin, Zubin Jacob, Tongcang Li

Published Mar 10, 2024• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum mechanics predicts the occurrence of random electromagnetic field fluctuations, or virtual photons, in vacuum. The exchange of virtual photons between two bodies in relative motion could lead to non-contact quantum vacuum friction or Casimir friction. Despite its theoretical significance, the non-contact Casimir frictional force has not been observed and its theoretical predictions have varied widely. In this work, we report the first measurement of the non-contact Casimir frictional force between two moving bodies. By employing two mechanical oscillators with resonant frequencies far lower than those in Lorentz models of electrons in dielectric materials, we have amplified the Casimir frictional force at low relative velocities by several orders of magnitude. We directly measure the non-contact Casimir frictional force between the two oscillators and show its linear dependence on velocity, proving the dissipative nature of Casimir friction. This advancement marks a pivotal contribution to the field of dissipative quantum electrodynamics and enhances our understanding of friction at the nanoscale.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2403.06051

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Quantum mechanics predicts the occurrence of random electromagnetic field fluctuations, or virtual photons, in vacuum. The exchange of virtual photons between two bodies in relative motion could lead to non-contact quantum vacuum friction or Casimir friction. Despite its theoretical significance, the non-contact Casimir frictional force has not been observed and its theoretical predictions have varied widely. In this work, we report the first measurement of the non-contact Casimir frictional force between two moving bodies. By employing two mechanical oscillators with resonant frequencies far lower than those in Lorentz models of electrons in dielectric materials, we have amplified the Casimir frictional force at low relative velocities by several orders of magnitude. We directly measure the non-contact Casimir frictional force between the two oscillators and show its linear dependence on velocity, proving the dissipative nature of Casimir friction. This advancement marks a pivotal contribution to the field of dissipative quantum electrodynamics and enhances our understanding of friction at the nanoscale.
Bodies in relative motion, spatially separated in vacuum, experience a tiny friction force known as quantum friction. This force has eluded experimental detection so far due to its small magnitude and short range. Herein, we give quantitative details so as to track traces of the quantum friction by measuring coherences in the atom. We notice that the environmentally induced decoherence can be decomposed into contributions of different signature: corrections induced by the electromagnetic vacuum in the presence of the dielectric sheet and those induced by the motion of the particle. In this direction, we show that noncontact friction enhances the decoherence of the moving atom. Further, its effect can be enlarged by a thorough selection of the two-level particle and the Drude-Lorentz parameters of the material. In this context, we suggest that measuring decoherence times through velocity dependence of coherences could indirectly demonstrate the existence of quantum friction.
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Abstract The geometric phase can be used as a fruitful venue of investigation to infer features of the quantum systems. Its application can reach new theoretical frontiers and imply innovative and challenging experimental proposals. Herein, we take advantage of the geometric phase to sense the corrections induced while a neutral particle travels at constant velocity in front of an imperfect sheet in quantum vacuum. As it is already known, two bodies in relative motion at constant velocity experience a quantum contactless dissipative force, known as quantum friction. This force has eluded experimental detection so far due to its small magnitude and short range. However, we give details of an innovative experiment designed to track traces of the quantum friction by measuring the velocity dependence of corrections to the geometric phase. We notice that the environmentally induced corrections can be decomposed in different contributions: corrections induced by the presence of the dielectric sheet and the motion of the particle in quantum vacuum. As the geometric phase accumulates over time, its correction becomes relevant at a relative short timescale, while the system still preserves purity. The experimentally viable scheme presented would be the first one in tracking traces of quantum friction through the study of decoherence effects on a NV center in diamond.
Abstract Spatially separated bodies in a relative motion through vacuum experience a tiny friction force known as quantum friction (QF). This force has so far eluded experimental detection due to its small magnitude and short range. Quantitative details revealing traces of the QF in the degradation of the quantum coherence of a particle are presented. Environmentally induced decoherence for a particle sliding over a dielectric sheet can be decomposed into contributions of different signatures: one solely induced by the electromagnetic vacuum in the presence of the dielectric and another induced by motion. As the geometric phase (GP) has been proved to be a fruitful venue of investigation to infer features of the quantum systems, herein it is proposed to use the accumulated GP acquired by a particle as a QF sensor. Furthermore, an innovative experiment designed to track traces of QF by measuring the velocity dependence of corrections to the GP and coherence is proposed. The experimentally viable scheme presented can spark renewed optimism for the detection of non‐contact friction, with the hope that this non‐equilibrium phenomenon can be readily measured soon.
The motion of a particle in vacuum near macroscopic bodies gives rise to a Magnus-like contribution to the nonequilibrium Casimir-Polder force. This effect originates from the interplay between particle dynamics and material-modified electromagnetic quantum fluctuations, inducing in the particle a direction-dependent angular momentum coupled to the electromagnetic field spin. The resulting drift force is proportional to the cross product of the particle's angular and translational velocities, revealing a rotational transport component in the nonequilibrium Casimir-Polder interaction. Our results establish a striking connection between quantum fluctuations-induced forces and the classical Magnus effect in fluid dynamics.
We discuss a force arising from zero-temperature quantum fluctuations in a weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). We argue that there is a drag force on an object moving at speeds well below Landau's critical velocity, and motivate our argument by an analogy to the Casimir force in an electromagnetic vacuum. We sketch the calculation of this force for an object described by a general potential. We comment about the relevance of our results to the stability of superfluid flow, arguing that this effect is consistent with the observation of persistent currents and that this effect introduces new experimental observables. Finally, we describe a new hydryodynamic boundary condition for superfluid flow that takes into account the scattering of quantum fluctuations off a rough surface.