Konwersatorium im. Leopolda Infelda
Auli (425), ul. Hoża 69
2007-05-10 (15:30) 
Prof. Philippe Andre Martin (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland)
Microscopic theory of the Casimir effect or the saga of a factor 1/2
In 1948, Casimir showed that vacuum fluctuations of the quantum electromagnetic field at zero temperature induce a macroscopic force between two metallic plates. When the temperature is different from zero, thermal fluctuations have to be taken into account. The calculation of their effect on the Casimir force has generated several theoretical controversies until now. We shall explain the current status of problem, starting from an historical view point, and present a new approach based on the principles of statistical mechanics.