11 Mar 2011; IMS (UiTø), room U1=A228. Friday 12:15-14:00.

Per Jakobsen

“Using functional integrals to compute Casimir forces between compact objects”

I will discuss a method for computing Casimir forces based on functional integrals that was introduced by two separate research groups in 2008. The method is quite general and can handle arbitrary geometries and various boundary conditions. I will describe the method for a neutral scalar field satisfying Dirichlet boundary conditions on a set of compact surfaces. I will make no attempt at introducing functional integrals in any rigorous way but will keep the talk at a level of rigor acceptable in theoretical physics. In the end I will apply the method to a simple situation where it will reproduce a known result.