Optical interference effects on the Casimir-Lifshitz force in multilayer structures

Abstract

The Casimir-Lifshitz force F(C¿L) between planar objects when one of them is stratified at the nanoscale is herein investigated. Layering results in optical interference effects that give rise to a modification of the optical losses, which, as stated by the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, should affect the Casimir-Lifshitz interaction. On these grounds, we demonstrate that, by nanostructuring the same volume of dielectric materials in diverse multilayer configurations, it is possible to access F(C¿L) of attractive or repulsive nature, even getting canceled, at specific separation distances.