Thermal Casimir interactions in multiparticle systems: Scattering channel approach

Multiparticle thermal Casimir interactions are investigated, mostly in terms of the Casimir entropy, from the point of view of multiple-scattering processes. The geometry of the scattering path is depicted in detail, and the contributions from different types of channels, namely, the transverse, longitudinal, and mixing channels, are demonstrated. The geometry of the path can strongly influence the weight of each channel in the path. Negativity and nonmonotonicity are commonly seen in multiparticle Casimir entropy, the sources of which are diverse, including the geometry of the path, the types of polarization mixing, the polarizability of each particle, etc. Thermal contributions from multiparticle scatterings can be significant in the system, while the zero-temperature multiparticle scattering effects are insignificant. Limiting behaviors from a multiparticle configuration to a continuum are briefly explored.

Automated summary

This study investigates multiparticle thermal Casimir interactions, focusing on the Casimir entropy, from the perspective of multiple-scattering processes. The geometry of the scattering path is described in detail, and the contributions of different types of channels are demonstrated. The study finds that the geometry of the path strongly influences the weight of each channel.