Scientific Calendar Event



Starts 22 Feb 2016 14:30
Ends 22 Feb 2016 16:00
Central European Time
Abstract:

Fluctuations of a medium lead to interactions between embedded objects. Such interactions, first predicted for the (quantum) electromagnetic field by Hendrik Casimir more than 60 years ago, have in recent years attracted considerable attention in a variety of systems, including also soft matter.  In this presentation, I will mostly focus on objects in vacuum that interact via electromagnetic fields, especially emphasizing the properties and theoretical concepts for systems in non-equilibrium situations: The interactions (forces) between objects at different temperatures allow for a variety of effects that are ruled out in equilibrium. In this non-equilibrium situation, the objects also exchange energy, known as radiative heat transfer. While for macroscopic objects this transfer is well understood in terms of Planck's law of black body radiation, it is fundamentally different for micro or nano-systems, and I will discuss recent progress in theoretical understanding.