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On the Problem of van der Waals Forces in Dielectric Media

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Casimir Physics

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 834))

Abstract

A short review of the problems which arise in the generalization of the Lifshitz theory of van der Waals force in the case of forces inside dielectric media is presented, together with some historical remarks. General properties of the stress tensor of equilibrium electromagnetic field in media are discussed, and the importance of the conditions of mechanical equilibrium is stressed. The physical meaning of the repulsive van der Waals interaction between bodies immersed in a liquid is discussed.

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References

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Acknowledgment

I thank R.Scott for critical reading of this paper and useful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INO-CNR BEC Center and Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá di Trento, Trento, 38123, Povo, Italy

    Lev P. Pitaevskii

  2. Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kosygina 2, 119334, Moscow, Russia

    Lev P. Pitaevskii

Authors
  1. Lev P. Pitaevskii
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Correspondence to Lev P. Pitaevskii .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, 87545, New Mexico, USA

    Diego Dalvit

  2. , Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, 87545, New Mexico, USA

    Peter Milonni

  3. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, 87545, New Mexico, USA

    David Roberts

  4. , Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, 87545, New Mexico, USA

    Felipe da Rosa

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Pitaevskii, L.P. (2011). On the Problem of van der Waals Forces in Dielectric Media. In: Dalvit, D., Milonni, P., Roberts, D., da Rosa, F. (eds) Casimir Physics. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 834. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20288-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20288-9_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20287-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20288-9

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