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The Casimir force acts on nearby surfaces due to zero-point fluctuations of the quantum electromagnetic field. In the nonretarded limit, the interaction is also known as the van der Waals force. When the electromagnetic response of the surfaces is anisotropic, a torque may act on the surfaces. Here, we review the literature and recent developments on the Casimir torque. The theory of the Casimir torque is discussed in an explicit example for uniaxial birefringent plates. Recent theoretical predictions for the Casimir torque in various configurations are presented. A particular emphasis is made on experimental setups for measuring the Casimir torque.

The use of an infinity of fluctuating paths of least time that are compatible with the quantum mechanics indeterminacy provides a new interpretation in geometrical optic of the interference pattern of Young’s double slit experiment, which suggests that the wave behavior of matter and radiation is dictated by the space-time geodesics. Moreover, the association of a wave function to each path of least time as a probability amplitude together with an uncertainty for momentum and position allows to derive the Schrödinger’s equation starting from the geodesic’s characteristics. A new insight is obtained regarding the van der Waals torque as well as Casimir attraction/repulsion mechanism.