Quantum Institute: Visitor Schedule

The Quantum Lunch is regularly held on Thursdays in the Theoretical Division Conference Room, TA-3, Building 123, Room 121.
For more information, contact Diego Dalvit.
To add your name to the Quantum Lunch email list, contact Charlotte Lehman

Thursday, November 19, 2009
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Speaker: Daniel P. Sheehan, University of San Diego

Technical Host: Peter Milonni

TOPIC: Casimir Chemistry

Abstract
It is shown that, at the nanoscale, the Casimir effect can be used to mechanically tune critical aspects of chemical reactions e.g., energies, equilibrium constants, activation energies, transition states, reaction rates by varying the spacing and composition of reaction vessel boundaries. This suggests new modalities for catalysts, nanoscale chemical manufacturing, chemical-mechanical engines, and biochemical processes in organisms.