Repulsive Casimir forces with finite-thickness slabs

TitleRepulsive Casimir forces with finite-thickness slabs
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsZhao R, Koschny T, Economou EN, Soukoulis CM
Journal TitlePhysical Review B
Volume83
Pages075108
Date Published02
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number1098-0121
Accession NumberISI:000287131100003
Keywordsnegative refractive-index, reflection, waves
Abstract

We use the extended Lifshitz theory to study the behaviors of the Casimir forces between finite-thickness effective medium slabs. We first study the interaction between a semi-infinite Drude metal and a finite-thickness magnetic slab with or without substrate. For no substrate, the large distance d dependence of the force is repulsive and goes as 1/d(5); for the Drude metal substrate, a stable equilibrium point appears at an intermediate distance that can be tuned by the thickness of the slab. We then study the interaction between two identical chiral metamaterial slabs, with and without substrate. For no substrate, the finite thickness of the slabs D does not significantly influence the repulsive character of the force at short distances, while the attractive character at large distances becomes weaker and behaves as 1/d(6); for the Drude metal substrate, the finite thickness of the slabs D does not influence the repulsive force too much at short distances until D = 0.05 lambda(0).

URL<Go to ISI>://000287131100003
DOI10.1103/PhysRevB.83.075108
Alternate JournalPhys. Rev. B