Casimir forces between nano-structured particles

Abstract

We develop a computational study of Casimir forces between three dimensional (3D) finite objects with an internal granular structure. The objects in the model consist of a finite arrangement of nanometer sized spherical particles having a dipolar interaction. In this model system one can both study the basic properties of the Casimir forces, and the effects from changing the parameters of the nano-structured materials that constitute the particles; this last type of study leads to a form of control of the Casimir force and an insight into possible technological applications. We present examples of both kinds of study.