Casimir interaction of concentric spheres at finite temperature

Abstract: We consider the finite temperature Casimir effect between two concentric spheres due to the vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field in the $(D+1)$-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. Different combinations of perfectly conducting and infinitely permeable boundary conditions are imposed on the spheres. The asymptotic expansions of the Casimir free energies when the dimensionless parameter $\vep$, the ratio of the distance between the spheres to the radius of the smaller sphere, is small are derived in both the high temperature region and the low temperature region. It is shown that the leading terms agree with those obtained using the proximity force approximation, which are of order $T\vep^{1-D}$ in the high temperature region and of order $\vep^{-D}$ in the low temperature region. Some universal structures are observed in the next two correction terms. The leading terms of the thermal corrections in the low temperature region are also derived. They are found to be finite when $\vep\rightarrow 0^+$, and are of order $T^{D+1}$.