Casimir force in the O(n -> infinity) model with free boundary conditions

Abstract

We present results for the temperature behavior of the Casimir force for a system with a film geometry with thickness $L$ subject to free boundary conditions and described by the $n\to\infty$ limit of the $O(n)$ model. These results extend over all temperatures, including the critical regime near the bulk critical temperature $T_c$, where the critical fluctuations determine the behavior of the force, and temperatures well below it, where its behavior is dictated by the Goldstone's modes contributions. The temperature behavior when the absolute temperature, $T$, is a finite distance below $T_c$, up to a logarithmic-in-$L$ proximity of the bulk critical temperature, is obtained both analytically and numerically; the critical behavior follows from numerics. The results resemble - but do not duplicate - the experimental curve behavior for the force obtained for $^4$He films.