Published December 2009 | Version v1
Journal article

Reply to 'Comment on 'Casimir force acting on magnetodielectric bodies embedded in media''

  • 1. Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, D-07743 Jena (Germany)

Description

In a recent Comment [I. Brevik and S. A. Ellingsen, Phys. Rev. A 79, 027801 (2009)], our position that the calculation of dispersion forces should be based preferably on the Lorentz force (or, equivalently, on Maxwell's stress tensor) is put into question, and it is argued that one should resort to Minkowski's stress tensor instead. After sketching briefly our reasons for preferring the Lorentz force, we point out that by use of Minkowski's stress tensor additional, compensatory force components are included in the calculation, but inconsistently. We consider the electrostatic arguments given in support of Minkowski's tensor in the Comment as unconvincing, and we point out that the issue of divergences raised in the Comment in the context of planar setups is not specific to Maxwell's stress tensor.

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
80
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 067801-067801.2
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41086604
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
Descriptors DEI
CASIMIR EFFECT; LORENTZ FORCE; MINKOWSKI SPACE; OPTICS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; STRESSES; TENSORS
Descriptors DEC
ELECTRODYNAMICS; FIELD THEORIES; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; SPACE

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2009 The American Physical Society