2007/03/31 by Giuseppe Bimonte, E. Calloni, Enrico Calloni +2 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.76.025008
published as Phys.Rev.D76:025008,2007 · 9 pages, improved presentation and new references added
arxiv created 2007/05/15 · openalex publication_date 2007/07/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This paper derives a set of general relativistic cardinal equations for the equilibrium of an extended body in a uniform gravitational field. These equations are essential for a proper understanding of the mechanics of suspended relativistic systems. As an example, the prototypical case of a suspended vessel filled with radiation is discussed. The mechanics of Casimir apparatuses at rest in the gravitational field of the Earth is then considered. Starting from an expression for the Casimir energy-momentum tensor in a weak gravitational field recently derived by the authors, it is shown here that, in the case of a rigid cavity supported by a stiff mount, the weight of the Casimir energy EC stored in the cavity corresponds to a gravitational mass M=EC/c2, in agreement with the covariant conservation law of the regularized energy-momentum tensor. The case of a cavity consisting of two disconnected plates supported by separate mounts, where the two measured forces cannot be obtained by straightforward arguments, is also discussed.