Fluctuation-induced forces: From van-der-Waals to quantum friction.

All bodies are surrounded by a fluctuating electromagnetic field, due to the random motion of charges inside a body. These fluctuating (evanescent) fields give rise to forces between nearby bodies. Such fluctuation-induced forces go by the names of van-der-Waals, Casimir or Lifshitz, depending on the circumstances. The purpose of the talk is to review the subject, with an emphasis on the recent developments related to systems out of equilibrium.