https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00044-6
Casimir-Polder interaction of atoms with magnetodielectric bodies
1
Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut,
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena,
Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
2
Institute of Physics, National Center for Sciences and
Technology, 1 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city,
Vietnam
3
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Rostock,
Universitätsplatz 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany
Corresponding author: a s.buhmann@tpi.uni-jena.de
Received:
28
January
2005
Revised:
10
March
2005
Published online:
12
April
2005
A general theory of the Casimir-Polder interaction of single atoms with dispersing and absorbing magnetodielectric bodies is presented, which is based on QED in linear, causal media. Both ground-state and excited atoms are considered. Whereas the Casimir-Polder force acting on a ground-state atom can conveniently be derived from a perturbative calculation of the atom-field coupling energy, an atom in an excited state is subject to transient force components that can only be fully understood by a dynamical treatment based on the body-assisted vacuum Lorentz force. The results show that the Casimir-Polder force can be influenced by the body-induced broadening and shifting of atomic transitions — an effect that is not accounted for within lowest-order perturbation theory. The theory is used to study the Casimir-Polder force of a ground-state atom placed within a magnetodielectric multilayer system, with special emphasis on thick and thin plates as well as a planar cavity consisting of two thick plates. It is shown how the competing attractive and repulsive force components related to the electric and magnetic properties of the medium, respectively, can — for sufficiently strong magnetic properties — lead to the formation of potential walls and wells.
PACS: 12.20.-m – Quantum electrodynamics / 34.50.Dy – Interactions of atoms and molecules with surfaces; photon and electron emission; neutralization of ions / 42.50.Nn – Quantum optical phenomena in absorbing, dispersive and conducting media
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2005