SIUC Physics Seminar
School of Physics and Applied Physics, Southern Illinois University--Carbondale
2026 April 03 Friday 4:00 PM:
Physics Seminar in Neckers 440
Title: The Casimir effect
Speaker: K. V. Shajesh
Affiliation: Southern Illinois University--Carbondale
Abstract:
We will introduce quantum fluctuations and contrast it with temperature fluctuations.
van der Waals interactions between polarizable atoms will be motivated and by including
retardations we will introduce Casimir-Polder interactions. Fluctuation-dissipation
theorem will be used to motivate the Casimir effect as the interaction between
polarizable objects in the presence of quantum fluctuations. Using the
multiple scattering formalism, we will discuss the following: how do
Casimir energies fall, interaction between corrugated cylinders,
many-body contributions to Casimir energies, Casimir energy of fractal
configurations, and how certain geometries can lead to repulsive Casimir forces.
Like others before me, I will address the talk to a hypothetical alert
undergraduate student of limitless dedication.
Biography:
K. V. Shajesh is Professor of Practice at SIUC Physics.
His research interest is in developing non-perturbative
techniques in quantum field theory. He works on quantum
electrodynamics and Casimir effect related fields.
Last updated on
by K V Shajesh
(kvshajesh@gmail.com).