Temperature Dependence of the Casimir Force for Metals

Abstract

Starting from the Lifshitz formula for the Casimir force between parallel plates we calculate the difference between the forces at two different settings, one in which the temperature is $T_1=350$ K, the other when $T_2=300$ K. As material we choose gold, and make use of the Drude dispersion relation. Our results, which are shown graphically, should be directly comparable to experiment. As an analogous calculation based upon the plasma dispersion relation leads to a different theoretical force difference, an experiment of this kind would be a decisive test. We also present an analogous calculation for the case when the two plates are replaced with a sphere-plate system, still with gold as material in both bodies. The sphere is assumed so large that the proximity theorem holds. Discussion of the consistency with the third law of thermodynamics and the validity of the surface impedance approach is provided.