Superconducting Detectors and the Casimir Effect

Many types of superconducting detectors naturally form Casimir cavities (Superconducting Tunnel Junctions, some Transition Edge Sensor geometries). We show that by influencing the energy balance of the superconducting-to-normal (S–N) transition of the cavity boundaries the Casimir effect can have an effect on the microscopic parameters of the detector, such as the superconducting energy gap and critical field. In order to determine whether these effects are practically important a rigorous mathematical discussion of the energy balance of the detector’s transition is required. We discuss the basis for such a rigorous analysis as well as the type of electromagnetism required and the inadequacy of existing Casimir effect solutions when applied to the superconducting system.