Abstract. In this paper, we discuss the influence of a gravitomagnetic field on the vacuum energy of a scalar quantum field confined in a Casimir cavity. To avoid complications which could obscure the pure gravitomagnetic effects on vacuum flucuations inside the cavity, we consider a somewhat idealized scenario, namely a Casimir cavity lying between two parallel massive walls, moving in opposite directions to each other. This motion provides the required gravitomagnetic field experienced by the quantum field in the cavity. Following Schwinger's proper-time approach, we evaluate the corrections to the Casimir energy in the framework of linearized gravity. At variance with what is expected in the presence of a pure magnetic or a gravitoelectric field, we did not find a first-order effect in the vacuum energy shift for the confined quantum field. We discuss and compare our results with those presented in other papers, also suggesting a physical explanation of such null effect.

PACS numbers: 04.20.−q, 04.62.+v

Print publication: Issue 23 (7 December 2009)
Received 20 July 2009, in final form 18 August 2009
Published 30 October 2009