Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions
In this review, we investigate several aspects and features of spatial field correlations for the massless scalar field and the electromagnetic field, both in stationary and nonstationary conditions, and show how they manifest in two- and many-body static and dynamic dispersion interactions (van der...
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1424 |
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| author | Roberto Passante Lucia Rizzuto |
| author_facet | Roberto Passante Lucia Rizzuto |
| author_sort | Roberto Passante |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this review, we investigate several aspects and features of spatial field correlations for the massless scalar field and the electromagnetic field, both in stationary and nonstationary conditions, and show how they manifest in two- and many-body static and dynamic dispersion interactions (van der Waals and Casimir–Polder). We initially analyze the spatial field correlations for noninteracting fields, stressing their nonlocal behavior, and their relation to two-body dispersion interactions. We then consider how field correlations are modified by the presence of a field source, such as an atom or in general a polarizable body, firstly in a stationary condition and then in a dynamical condition, starting from a nonstationary state. We first evaluate the spatial field correlation for the electric field in the stationary case, in the presence of a ground-state or excited-state atom, and then we consider its time evolution in the case of an initially nonstationary state. We discuss in detail their nonlocal features, in both stationary and nonstationary conditions. We then explicitly show how the nonlocality of field correlations can manifest itself in van der Waals and Casimir–Polder interactions between atoms, both in static and dynamic situations. We discuss how this can allow us to indirectly probe the existence and the properties of nonlocal vacuum field correlations of the electromagnetic field, a research subject of strong actual interest, also in consequence of recent measurements of spatial field correlations exploiting electro-optical sampling techniques. The subtle and intriguing relation between nonlocality and causality is also discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-715adf891ecd477aa5151609933a2e3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-715adf891ecd477aa5151609933a2e3a2023-11-19T16:24:42ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002023-10-012510142410.3390/e25101424Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder InteractionsRoberto Passante0Lucia Rizzuto1Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica—Emilio Segrè, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Fisica e Chimica—Emilio Segrè, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo, ItalyIn this review, we investigate several aspects and features of spatial field correlations for the massless scalar field and the electromagnetic field, both in stationary and nonstationary conditions, and show how they manifest in two- and many-body static and dynamic dispersion interactions (van der Waals and Casimir–Polder). We initially analyze the spatial field correlations for noninteracting fields, stressing their nonlocal behavior, and their relation to two-body dispersion interactions. We then consider how field correlations are modified by the presence of a field source, such as an atom or in general a polarizable body, firstly in a stationary condition and then in a dynamical condition, starting from a nonstationary state. We first evaluate the spatial field correlation for the electric field in the stationary case, in the presence of a ground-state or excited-state atom, and then we consider its time evolution in the case of an initially nonstationary state. We discuss in detail their nonlocal features, in both stationary and nonstationary conditions. We then explicitly show how the nonlocality of field correlations can manifest itself in van der Waals and Casimir–Polder interactions between atoms, both in static and dynamic situations. We discuss how this can allow us to indirectly probe the existence and the properties of nonlocal vacuum field correlations of the electromagnetic field, a research subject of strong actual interest, also in consequence of recent measurements of spatial field correlations exploiting electro-optical sampling techniques. The subtle and intriguing relation between nonlocality and causality is also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1424field correlationsnonlocalityCasimir–Polder dispersion interactions |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Passante Lucia Rizzuto Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions Entropy field correlations nonlocality Casimir–Polder dispersion interactions |
| title | Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions |
| title_full | Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions |
| title_short | Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir–Polder Interactions |
| title_sort | nonlocal static and dynamical vacuum field correlations and casimir polder interactions |
| topic | field correlations nonlocality Casimir–Polder dispersion interactions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1424 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertopassante nonlocalstaticanddynamicalvacuumfieldcorrelationsandcasimirpolderinteractions AT luciarizzuto nonlocalstaticanddynamicalvacuumfieldcorrelationsandcasimirpolderinteractions |