Nontouching Nanoparticle Diclusters Bound by Repulsive and Attractive Casimir Forces

 
Thumbnail
View/Open
Author
McCauley, Alexander P.
Joannopoulos, J. D.
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.103005
Metadata
Show full item record
Citation
Rodriguez, Alejandro W., Alexander P. McCauley, David Woolf, Federico Capasso, J. D. Joannopoulos, and Steven G. Johnson. 2010. “Nontouching Nanoparticle Diclusters Bound by Repulsive and Attractive Casimir Forces.” Physical Review Letters 104 (16) (April 19). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.104.160402.
Abstract
We present a scheme for obtaining stable Casimir suspension of dielectric nontouching objects immersed in a fluid, validated here in various geometries consisting of ethanol-separated dielectric spheres and semi-infinite slabs. Stability is induced by the dispersion properties of real dielectric (monolithic) materials. A consequence of this effect is the possibility of stable configurations (clusters) of compact objects, which we illustrate via a molecular two-sphere dicluster geometry consisting of two bound spheres levitated above a gold slab. Our calculations also reveal a strong interplay between material and geometric dispersion, and this is exemplified by the qualitatively different stability behavior observed in planar versus spherical geometries.
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA
Citable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:26370382

Collections