Measuring the effect of electrostatic patch potentials in Casimir force experiments
Joseph L. Garrett, Jongbum Kim, Jeremy N. Munday
Abstract
This work presents measurements of the Casimir force between a sphere and a plate where the electrostatic patch potentials on both surfaces are characterized with Kelvin probe force microscopy. The spatial derivative of the Casimir force gradient between the spheres and plates is then measured using a force-modulation technique. The Casimir force gradient is shown to be at least an order of magnitude greater than the force gradient coming from the patch potentials out to a separation of about 200 nm.
Topics & Concepts
Casimir effectElectrostatic force microscopeCasimir pressureKelvin probe force microscopePressure-gradient forceSPHERESPhysicsWork (physics)Classical mechanicsConservative forceElectrostaticsMechanicsAtomic force microscopyMaterials scienceOpticsMicroscopyQuantum mechanicsNanotechnologyAstronomyQuantum Electrodynamics and Casimir EffectMechanical and Optical ResonatorsThermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies