Evenementen

Casimir Physics School

Workshop 2012: from 5 Mar 2012 through 16 Mar 2012

The startling realization that has emerged in the last century is that the void, that is, the complete absence of any detectable particles or energy is far from empty. Theoretically this conclusion originated around 1900 from the work of Max Planck and the early pioneers of quantum theory. A consequence of the quantum behavior of electromagnetic fields is that each field mode contains intrinsic ‘zero point’ energy ћω/2 when it is in the lowest energy state. Thus a field containing no photons - empty space - has a huge intrinsic energy density. This zero-point energy or vacuum energy has numerous observable consequences in atomic or sub-atomic physics. Moreover, two mirrors facing each other in vacuum are mutually attracted to each other by the disturbance of quantum vacuum fluctuations – a phenomenon first predicted in 1948 by the Dutch theoretical physicist Hendrik Casimir.

The combined school-workshop aims to explore developments on a global scale in the Casimir field as an education and research forum in Casimir physics. The school will cover the basics in depth, general formalism, experiments and moving into the more advanced technical aspects, with a clear overview of the state of the art in the field. For this purpose we want to give able time for young researchers and advanced researchers to interact in class and get acquainted with each other and initiate interactions and further collaborations(starting from the school and further focused by the workshop). Subsequently, therefore, the school will be followed by a workshop with the aim to further connect people doing current advanced work in the field of surface force measurements and micro/nano technologies with those who work on current problems of quantum field theory derived forces. Secondly the goal of the workshop is to expand the understanding of these forces in common problems from micro/nano technologies to gravity and laboratory cosmology.

More information can be found on this website. The workshop is organized for master students and PhD’s. If you are interested, fill in the registration form on the website. Also let the board know at bestuur@professorfrancken.nl, so we can pull some strings for you.