Work

Correlation Decoupling of Casimir Interaction in an Electrolyte Driven by External Electric Fields

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: It is well established that the long-range van der Waals or thermal Casimir interaction between two semi-infinite dielectrics separated by a distance H is screened by an intervening electrolyte. Here we show how this interaction is modified when an electric field of strength E is applied parallel to the dielectric boundaries, leading to a nonequilibrium steady state with a current. The presence of the field induces a long-range thermal repulsive interaction, scaling just like the thermal Casimir interaction between dielectrics without the intervening electrolyte, i.e., as 1/H^{3}. At small E the effect is of order E^{2}, while at large fields it saturates to an E independent value. We explain the results in terms of a decoupling mechanism between the charge density fluctuations of cations and anions at large applied fields.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.133.238002

Authors: Guangle Du, David S. Dean, Bing Miao, Rudolf Podgornik

Institutions: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Université de Bordeaux, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green