Forces from fluctuations in and out of equilibrium

(in QED, soft, and active matter)

Outline

I.       Force from equilibrium fluctuations:  Particles, radiation, quantum and thermal Casimir effect

II.     Repulsive Casimir forces:  Boundary effects (fluids, metamaterials, ...); and shapes (spheres, pistons, ...)

III.   Earnshaw's theorem  in electrostatics and for fluctuation-induced forces

IV.   Non-equilibrium QED:  Heat transfer and force with fluctuational QED

V.     Force from "active matter":  Pressure, ratchets, and self propulsion

VI.   Fluctuation force with conserved density:  Temporal disturbances and steady currents

VII.  Dynamic Casimir phenomena:  Friction, radiation, and anomalous dispersion

VIII. Lateral Casimir force  from corrugated surfaces

IX.   Work from non-equilibrium fluctuations:  Ratchets, and propulsion

X.     "Near-field" thermodynamics: Heat and non-equilibrium force in the near field; friction and heat conductivity from fluctuations

XI.    Engine: Propulsive force, power, friction, and efficiency

XII.   Summary

Next (Equilibrium force) Outline Equilibrium FIF Repulsive Casimir Earnshaw's theorem Non-equilibrium QED Active matter Conserved density Dynamic Casimir Lateral force Ratchets Near-field QED Engine Summary