Dielectric fluctuations underlie a wide variety of physical phenomena, from ion mobility in electrolyte solutions and decoherence in quantum systems to dynamics in glass-forming materials and conformational changes in proteins. Here we show that dielectric fluctuations also lead to noncontact friction. Using high sensitivity, custom fabricated, single crystal silicon cantilevers we measure ener...

We employ the concepts of band theory to describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves in three-dimensionally periodic face-centered-cubic (fcc) dielectric structures. This can produce a "photonic band gap" in which optical modes, spontaneous emission, and zero point fluctuations are all absent. In the course of a broad experimental survey, we have found that most fcc dielectric structures hav...

The dielectric properties of plastic resins can play a significant role in the signal performance of high speed, high frequency electrical components. Variations within the plastic material can occur as a result of environmental factors to cause changes to their dielectric properties. The dependency of moisture content and temperature on the dielectric constant and loss tangent of a number of p...