Dirichlet Spheres in Continuum Quantum Field Theory
Abstract
Description
We study the vacuum polarization (Casimir) energy in renormalizable, continuum quantum field theory in the presence of a background field, designed to impose Dirichlet boundary conditions on the fluctuating quantum field. In two and three spatial dimensions the Casimir energy diverges as a background field becomes concentrated on the surface on which the Dirichlet boundary condition would eventually hold. This divergence does not affect the force between rigid bodies, but it does invalidate calculations of Casimir stresses based on idealized boundary conditions.
Eight pages, (Rinton style included), Contribution to the proceedings of the QFEXT03 workshop, Norman,Oklahoma, September 2003
Eight pages, (Rinton style included), Contribution to the proceedings of the QFEXT03 workshop, Norman,Oklahoma, September 2003