Quantum non-contact friction in resonant dielectric media

Abstract

We compute the non-contact friction force induced between two isotropic planar dielectric slabs which obey a plasma model dielectric function using scalar electromagnetism. All computations are carried out at zero temperature. Strong constraints on the integration parameters which define the friction force are derived and subsequently used for a variety of numerical computations. In the limit of large dielectric separations, a saddle point approximation is used to show that the dielectric function is approximately constant in this limit. In the limit of small dielectric separations, a distinct set of integer power laws unique to the plasma model are found. These are then shown to correspond to an elastic limit for the friction force. Finally, these power laws yield a natural maximization condition for the friction which provides an interesting contrast to the behaviors observed in friction computations involving dielectric slabs with constant dielectric functions.