Casimir and Van der Waals Interactions in Quantum Systems
Summary
Casimir and Van der Waals interactions arise from quantum and thermal fluctuations of electromagnetic fields, manifesting as forces between neutral objects at micro- and nanoscale separations. While Van der Waals forces dominate at molecular distances, the Casimir effect emerges when macroscopic boundaries enforce boundary conditions on vacuum fluctuations, producing measurable attractions or, under tailored conditions, repulsions. These interactions underpin phenomena across condensed matter, nanotechnology and fundamental physics, from the stability of colloidal suspensions to the actuation of microelectromechanical systems. Recent advances have revealed new regimes in two-dimensional materials, spintronic platforms and moving bodies, highlighting the interplay between topology, magnetic excitations and non-equilibrium motion. Understanding and controlling these forces offer routes to frictionless bearings, Casimir-engineered devices and tests of quantum electrodynamics in previously inaccessible regimes.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent experimental work has demonstrated amplification of electromagnetic fields scattered by a rapidly rotating conductor, confirming long-standing predictions on quantum friction and opening pathways to observe related Casimir friction effects in the quantum regime. The study employs a toroidal LC circuit and a spinning metallic cylinder to reveal conditions under which vacuum fluctuations can extract rotational energy, bridging induction generator concepts with quantum electrodynamic phenomena.
Foundational theoretical investigations into two-dimensional Dirac materials have uncovered phase transitions in Casimir interactions among graphene, silicene, germanene and stanene layers. By tuning spin–orbit coupling and external fields, researchers have shown that the magnitude, sign and distance dependence of the Casimir force can be modulated by topological properties. This work paves the way for repulsive and quantised Casimir interactions in 2D heterostructures, with implications for non-contact actuation and quantum levitation.
Casimir and Van der Waals Interactions in Quantum Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in casimir and van der waals interactions in quantum systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Zero-point fluctuations: Intrinsic electromagnetic field variations present even at absolute zero, originating from quantum uncertainty.
Casimir effect: Force between macroscopic bodies due to alteration of vacuum fluctuations by boundary conditions.
Van der Waals interactions: Attractive or repulsive forces between molecules or surfaces arising from instantaneous dipole correlations.
Quantum friction: Dissipative force experienced by moving bodies due to non-equilibrium vacuum or thermal fluctuations.
Magnon: Quasiparticle representing a collective spin-wave excitation in a magnetic lattice.
References
- Amplification of electromagnetic fields by a rotating body. Nature Communications (2024).
- Magnonic Casimir Effect in Ferrimagnets. Physical Review Letters (2023).
- Measurement of the Casimir Force between 0.2 and 8 μm: Experimental Procedures and Comparison with Theory. Universe (2021).
- Casimir force phase transitions in the graphene family. Nature Communications (2017).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.