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From: don@allegra.UUCP (D. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Casimir Effect
Message-ID: <2256@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Feb-84 18:37:44 EST
Article-I.D.: allegra.2256
Posted: Sat Feb  4 18:37:44 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 07:36:43 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 10

I believe the Casimir effect is a Quantum Field effect.  The effect is
this:  Two [uncharged] metal plates in a vacuum are attracted by a
force other than gravity.  The vacuum contains photon fluctuations at
various frequencies; however between the plates, modes with wavelengths
longer than the spacing between the plates are not possible.  Outside
the plates those mode exist, so there is a net pressure inwards.

Someone once told me that the Higg's mechanism in Quantum
Chromodynamics is a similar phenomena involving the strong nuclear
force.  Can someone explain that?