Casimir forces and high-Tc superconductors

Abstract

We investigate the Casimir forces between high-Tc superconductors as functions of the distance and temperature, focusing on optimally doped YBa2Cu3O6.95. We consider formerly studied configurations in normal metals lying in the short-distance (50 nm–600 nm), and long-distance (600 nm–10 microns) regimes. The dielectric properties of the material are described in terms of weakly interacting, short-correlated conducting pairs transported along quasi-two-dimensional layers. In the short-range regime, a continuous behavior of the Casimir forces arises, with no significant discontinuity at the transition temperature. This behavior also follows in the equivalent the normal conductor configuration. In the long-range regime, the forces show an abrupt increment at the critical temperature. Simultaneously, the Casimir entropy and the specific heat develop a strong discontinuous behavior, characteristic of the superconducting-normal phase transition. In every situation, the entropy vanishes at extremely low temperatures.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

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