2006/08/31 by U. Leonhardt, Ulf Leonhardt, T. G. Philbin · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #cond-mat.mtrl-sci #physics.optics #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/9/8/254
arxiv created 2007/07/19 · openalex publication_date 2007/08/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Left-handed metamaterials make perfect lenses that image classical electromagnetic fields with significantly higher resolution than the diffraction limit. Here, we consider the quantum physics of such devices. We show that the Casimir force of two conducting plates may turn from attraction to repulsion if a perfect lens is sandwiched between them. For optical left-handed metamaterials, this repulsive force of the quantum vacuum may levitate ultra-thin mirrors.