Uma introdução aos métodos de cálculo da energia de Casimir

The Casimir effect is one of the most intriguing aspects of modern physics. The prediction of the existence of a macroscopic force of quantum origin between two neutral conductors and its subsequent experimental verification is without doubt the hallmark of quantum field theory. The present work complements a conceptual introduction recently published in this journal by presenting some of the methods of evaluation of the Casimir energy which gives rise to the Casimir effect.