On the validity of constraints on light elementary particles and extra-dimensional physics from the Casimir effect

We discuss the constraints on the parameters of a Yukawa interaction obtained from the indirect measurements of the Casimir pressure between parallel plates using the sphere–plate configuration. Recently, it was claimed in the literature that the application of the proximity force approximation (PFA) to the calculation of a Yukawa interaction in the sphere–plate configuration could lead to a large error of order 100% in the constraints obtained. Here we re-calculate the constraints both exactly and using the PFA, and arrive at identical results. We elucidate the reasons why an incorrect conclusion was obtained suggesting that the PFA is inapplicable to calculate the Yukawa force.     

Demonstration of the lateral casimir force

The lateral Casimir force between a sinusoidally corrugated gold coated plate and large sphere was measured for surface separations between 0.2 to 0.3 microm using an atomic force microscope. The measured force shows the required periodicity corresponding to the corrugations. It also exhibits the necessary inverse fourth power distance dependence. The obtained results are shown to be in good agreement with a complete theory taking into account the imperfectness of the boundary metal. This demonstration opens new opportunities for the use of the Casimir effect for lateral translation in microelectromechanical systems.     

Casimir force pressure on the insulating layer in metal-insulator-semiconductor structures

The Casimir force pressure on the insulating layer in metal-insulator-semiconductor structures with parameters close to those used in the production of semiconductor devices has been calculated. It has been shown that the Casimir force pressure increases tenfold and reaches several tens of pascals as the insulator thickness decreases from 80 to 40 nm. The metal layer thickness and the presence of the surface layer with a high charge carrier concentration in the semiconductor have a slight effect on calculated values of the Casimir pressure.     

Width of quasi-energy levels of a one-electron ion with arbitrary nuclear charge

We consider a quasi-energy state of a single-electron multiply charged ion in a variable electric field which reduces to the Dirac state (21/20) in the absence of the field. We study the dependence of the radiative width of the quasilevel on the external field amplitude for different values of the frequency.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 96–100, September, 1983.We thank Prof. L. N. Labzovskii for useful discussions and comments.     

Application of relativistic Coulomb Green's function to the calculation of transition probabilities in an electric field

The probability of transitions between the levels of multiply charged ions in a strong electric field are expressed in terms of the matrix elements of the relativistic Coulomb Green's function. The probability of magnetic dipole decay of the 2s1/2 level of a hydrogenlike ion in a field F=10⁷ V/cm is calculated.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 38–42, February, 1981.I should like to express my thanks to Professor L. N. Labzovskii for numerous discussions and valuable comments.     

Energy dependence of multiplicity in proton-nucleus collisions and models of multiparticle production

This is a continuation of our earlier investigation (Gurtuet al 1974Phys. Lett. 50 B 391) on multiparticle production in proton-nucleus collisions based on an exposure of emulsion stack to 200 GeV/c beam at the NAL. It is found that the ratioR _em = 〈n _s〉/〈n _ch〉, where 〈n _ch〉 is the charged particle multiplicity in pp-collisions, increases slowly from about 1 at 10 GeV/c to 1·6 at 68 GeV/c and attains a constant value of 1·71 ± 0·04 in the region 200 to 8000 GeV/c. Furthermore,R _em = 1·71 implies an effectiveA-dependence ofR _A =A ^0.18,i.e., a very weak dependence. Predictions ofR _em on various models are discussed and compared with the emulsion data. Data seem to favour models of hadron-nucleon collisions in which production of particles takes place through adouble step mechanism,e.g., diffractive excitation, hydrodynamical and energy flux cascade as opposed to models which envisage instantaneous production.