Lateral Casimir force between sinusoidally corrugated surfaces: Asymmetric profiles, deviations from the proximity force approximation, and comparison with exact theory

摘要: The lateral Casimir force, which arises between aligned sinusoidally corrugated surfaces of a sphere and plate, was measured for the case small corrugation period beyond applicability region proximity force approximation (PFA). increased amplitudes corrugations on both plate allowed observation an asymmetry i.e., deviation its profile from perfect sine function. dependences phase shift test bodies were at different separations in two sets measurements with sphere. maximum magnitude as function separation also successive experiments. All measurement data compared theoretical approach using exact theory based Rayleigh expansions no fitting parameters. In cases real material properties nonzero temperature taken into account. found to be good agreement but deviate significantly predictions approach. This provides quantitative confirmation diffraction-type effects that are disregarded within PFA Possible applications phenomenon nanotechnology operation micromachines discussed.