MG11 
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The role of Surface Plasmons in the Casimir Effect

The Casimir force is one of the most intriguing predictions of quantum field theory. During the last years it has been measured with modern techniques reaching an accuracy in the percent range. The theory-experiment comparison is a key point to test gravity in the nano- and micrometer domain. I will illustrate the connection between the Casimir effect and Surface Plasmons. We have found evidence for a quite non-intuitive behaviour which shows the importance of the Surface Plasmons both for short and long distances. This suggests a way through which one might hope to tailor the Casimir force. This perspective is also supported by a new class of artificial materials that exploit plasmons to achieve a negative index of refraction at visible frequencies. Indeed, theory predicts a strong modification of the Casimir force for these materials.