Editing Casimir effect (section)

=== Relativistic van der Waals force ===
Alternatively, a 2005 paper by [[Robert Jaffe (physicist)|Robert Jaffe]] of MIT states that "Casimir effects can be formulated and Casimir forces can be computed without reference to zero-point energies. They are relativistic, quantum forces between charges and currents. The Casimir force (per unit area) between parallel plates vanishes as alpha, the fine structure constant, goes to zero, and the standard result, which appears to be independent of alpha, corresponds to the alpha approaching infinity limit", and that "The Casimir force is simply the (relativistic, [[retarded potential|retarded]]) van der Waals force between the metal plates."<ref name=":0" /> Casimir and Polder's original paper used this method to derive the Casimir–Polder force. In 1978, Schwinger, DeRadd, and Milton published a similar derivation for the Casimir effect between two parallel plates.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Schwinger | first1 = Julian | last2 = DeRaad | first2 = Lester L. | last3 = Milton | first3 = Kimball A. | year = 1978 | title = Casimir effect in dielectrics | journal = Annals of Physics | volume = 115 | issue = 1| pages = 1–23 | doi=10.1016/0003-4916(78)90172-0|bibcode = 1978AnPhy.115....1S }}</ref> More recently, Nikolic proved from first principles of [[quantum electrodynamics]] that the Casimir force does not originate from the vacuum energy of the electromagnetic field,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Nikolic | first1 = Hrvoje | year = 2016 | title = Proof that Casimir force does not originate from vacuum energy | journal = Physics Letters B | volume = 761 | pages = 197–202 | doi=10.1016/j.physletb.2016.08.036 | arxiv = 1605.04143 | bibcode = 2016PhLB..761..197N | s2cid = 119265677 }}</ref> and explained in simple terms why the fundamental microscopic origin of Casimir force lies in van der Waals forces.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Nikolic | first1 = Hrvoje | year = 2017 | title = Is zero-point energy physical? A toy model for Casimir-like effect | journal = Annals of Physics | volume = 383 | pages = 181–195 | doi=10.1016/j.aop.2017.05.013 | arxiv = 1702.03291 | bibcode = 2017AnPhy.383..181N | s2cid = 118883930 }}</ref>