The Low-Frequency Character of the Thermal Correction to the Casimir Force between Metallic Films

The frequency spectrum of the finite temperature correction to the Casimir force can be determined by the use of the Lifshitz formalism for metallic plates of finite conductivity. We show that the correction for the TE electromagnetic modes is dominated by frequencies so low that the plates cannot be modelled as ideal dielectrics. We also address the issues relating to the behavior of electromagnetic fields at the surfaces an within metallic conductors, and claculate the surface modes using appropriate low-frequency metallic boundary conditions. Our result brings the tehrmal correction into agreement with experimental results that were previously obtained.