Fluctuations of the Casimir-like force between two membrane inclusions

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2010 May;81(5 Pt 1):050903. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.81.050903. Epub 2010 May 28.

Abstract

Although Casimir forces are inseparable from their fluctuations, little is known about these fluctuations in soft matter systems. We use the membrane stress tensor to study the fluctuations of the membrane-mediated Casimir-like force. This method enables us to recover the Casimir force between two inclusions and to calculate its variance. We show that the Casimir force is dominated by its fluctuations. Furthermore, when the distance d between the inclusions is decreased from infinity, the variance of the Casimir force decreases as -1/d2. This distance dependence shares a common physical origin with the Casimir force itself.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Statistical
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tensile Strength

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membranes, Artificial