don@allegra.UUCP (D. Mitchell) (02/05/84)
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?