In the quantum field theory, the Casimir effect refers to the pressure arising from the attraction between two flat, parallel metal plates placed very close to each other in a vacuum. This effect is due to a reduction in the number of virtual particles in the space between the plates. As the force of the pressure decreases sharply when the objects move apart, it is measurable only when the distance between them is extremely small. The effect was predicted by the Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir and observed in an experiment conducted by him in 1948.
The fact that there should be an attractive force between two conducting metal surfaces was predicted by Casimir, who was studying the properties of colloidal solutions in the laboratories of Philips in the Netherlands. The properties of these solutions are determined by long-range van der Waals forces – attractive forces between neutral atoms and molecules. One of Casimir’s colleagues, Overbeek, realized that the theory developed by Fritz London in 1932 to explain the origin of van der Waals forces did not well explain experimental observations in colloids. Overbeek asked Casimir to investigate the issue, and together with Dirk Polder, Casimir discovered that the interaction between two neutral molecules could be correctly described only if the finite value of the speed of light was taken into account. Soon after, Casimir noticed that this result could be interpreted from the viewpoint of vacuum fluctuations. It was during this time that he asked himself what would happen if there were not two molecules in vacuum, but rather two mirrors facing each other. This work led to his famous prediction about the existence of an attractive force between reflecting surfaces. Although the presence of the Casimir force might seem counterintuitive, it is actually quite understandable. In the classical mechanics of ancient times, the concept of vacuum was simple: vacuum is what remains after you remove particles from a container and lower the temperature to absolute zero. However, quantum mechanics fundamentally changed the concept of vacuum. It turns out that all fields, including electromagnetic fields, have fluctuations, meaning that their true value changes around a constant average value at any given moment. Even in an ideal vacuum at absolute zero, there are fluctuating fields known as “vacuum fluctuations,” whose average energy corresponds to half the energy of a photon. Vacuum fluctuations are not mere abstractions, products of physicists’ imagination. They have observable consequences that can be directly observed at a microscopic level. For example, an excited atom doesn’t remain in that state indefinitely but returns to its ground state by spontaneously emitting a photon. This transition is a consequence of vacuum fluctuations.
Imagine trying to balance a sharpened pencil vertically on the tip of your finger. The pencil will only stay in that position if your hand remains perfectly still and nothing disturbs the equilibrium. The slightest disturbance will disrupt the balance, causing the pencil to fall into a more stable position. Similarly, vacuum fluctuations trigger transitions of excited atoms back into their ground states. The Casimir force is the most well-known mechanical effect arising from vacuum fluctuations. Consider the space between two parallel mirrors as a resonator cavity. All electromagnetic fields have a characteristic spectrum containing many different frequencies. When there are no boundaries in vacuum, all frequencies are equally important. However, between the mirrors, where the field is reflected back and forth, the situation is different. Fields whose frequencies allow for an integer number of half-wavelengths between the mirrors are enhanced. They resonate within the cavity. For fields with other wavelengths, attenuation occurs. Vacuum fluctuations are amplified or attenuated depending on whether their frequencies are resonant or not. The magnitude of the radiation pressure is crucial in discussing the origin of the Casimir force. Every field, including the field in vacuum, possesses energy. As all electromagnetic fields can propagate in space, they exert a specific pressure on the surfaces they encounter. This radiation pressure increases along with energy, which corresponds to the frequency of the electromagnetic field. At the resonant frequency, the internal pressure within the cavity surpasses the external pressure, leading to the repulsion of the mirrors. Conversely, for frequencies far from resonance, the radiation pressure inside the cavity is weaker than the external pressure, causing attraction between the mirrors. Consequently, those components of the field that induce attraction slightly outweigh the others causing repulsion. Calculations show that by introducing a metamaterial (e.g., quasicrystal) between the metal plates, the force can change its direction and become repulsive. These are active self-developing systems structured according to the wavelength in which they operate, forcing electromagnetic waves to act in the opposite direction of nature.
For two perfectly conducting parallel mirrors, the resultant attractive force F is proportional to the area S of the mirrors and inversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance d between them, i.e., 4~ F ~ S/d^4. By excluding these geometric factors, the Casimir force depends solely on fundamental constants – the Planck constant and the speed of light. While the Casimir force acting between mirrors positioned a few meters apart is quite insignificant, it can be measured when the distance is on the order of microns. For instance, two mirrors with areas of 1 cm² each, placed at a distance of 1 mm, attract each other with a Casimir force around 10^-7 N – approximately the weight of a water droplet with a diameter of half a millimeter. Although this force seems small, at sub-micron distances, the Casimir force becomes the most significant force acting between two neutral objects.
In practical terms
The Casimir force implies that when filters are attached, the inflow of energy flow diminishes, thereby blocking access to information from the Potential. Frequent entry into a closed state as a consequence leads to diseased conditions, depressions, problems, or even a “self-destructive” code. Examples of such states include anger, envy, jealousy, malice, fear, hatred, resistance, self-pity, and so on. Exiting this state is achieved by inducing conscious resonance between the plates (consciously accepting every situation, consciously seeking beauty in everything, consciously taking necessary actions even when feeling lazy, afraid, unsure, etc.), by bringing frequencies of Love, Honesty, Acceptance, Faith, and Truth from within to the outside.
