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Full-Text Articles in Quantum Physics
Strong Dissipative Behavior In Quantum Field Theory, Arjun Berera, Marcelo Gleiser, Rudnei O. Ramos
Strong Dissipative Behavior In Quantum Field Theory, Arjun Berera, Marcelo Gleiser, Rudnei O. Ramos
Dartmouth Scholarship
We study the conditions under which an overdamped regime can be attained in the dynamic evolution of a quantum field configuration. Using a real-time formulation of finite temperature field theory, we compute the effective evolution equation of a scalar field configuration, quadratically interacting with a given set of other scalar fields. We then show that, in the overdamped regime, the dissipative kernel in the field equation of motion is closely related to the shear viscosity coefficient, as computed in scalar field theory at finite temperature. The effective dynamics is equivalent to a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau description of the approach to equilibrium …
The Electromagnetic Field Near A Dielectric Half-Space, Andrew Lang, Dr. Adam D. Helfer
The Electromagnetic Field Near A Dielectric Half-Space, Andrew Lang, Dr. Adam D. Helfer
College of Science and Engineering Faculty Research and Scholarship
We compute the expectations of the squares of the electric and magnetic fields in the vacuum region outside a half-space filled with a uniform non-dispersive dielectric. This gives predictions for the Casimir-Polder force on an atom in the "retarded" regime near a dielectric. We also find a positive energy density due to the electromagnetic field. This would lead, in the case of two parallel dielectric half-spaces, to a positive, separation-independent contribution to the energy density, besides the negative, separation-dependent Casimir energy. Rough estimates suggest that for a very wide range of cases, perhaps including all realizable ones, the total energy …