The Casimir-Polder (CP) effect -- the force between a neutral atom and an uncharged conducting plate in empty space -- is an intriguing consequence of quantum vacuum fluctuations. The typically attractive CP potential crosses over from a scaling of $z^{-3}$ at short separations to $z^{-4}$ at long distances, where retardation effects due to the finite speed of light become important. At intermediate distances, where the atom--surface separation is of the order of the wavelength of the dominant atomic transition, experiments have so far relied on indirect methods, such as diffraction or quantum reflection, to observe the CP effect. Here, we directly reveal the CP force between strontium atoms and a dielectric surface via the induced shifts in the atomic energy levels in the intermediate regime. We spectroscopically probe the CP-induced kHz-frequency shift of ultracold atoms confined by a magic-wavelength optical lattice at 189(2)~nm from the surface -- on the scale of the dominant 461-nm transition. Our measurements agree well with QED calculations and differ from the short-range approximation, while excluding the long-distance one. This paves the way for studying the CP effect across various surface properties and geometries, as well as exploring the tensor nature of the atom-surface potential -- all important for the development of hybrid atomic optical-magnetic quantum devices.
The Casimir-Polder (CP) effect -- the force between a neutral atom and an uncharged conducting plate in empty space -- is an intriguing consequence of quantum vacuum fluctuations. The typically attractive CP potential crosses over from a scaling of z−3 at short separations to z−4 at long distances, where retardation effects due to the finite speed of light become important. At intermediate distances, where the atom--surface separation is of the order of the wavelength of the dominant atomic transition, experiments have so far relied on indirect methods, such as diffraction or quantum reflection, to observe the CP effect. Here, we directly reveal the CP force between strontium atoms and a dielectric surface via the induced shifts in the atomic energy levels in the intermediate regime. We spectroscopically probe the CP-induced kHz-frequency shift of ultracold atoms confined by a magic-wavelength optical lattice at 189(2)~nm from the surface -- on the scale of the dominant 461-nm transition. Our measurements agree well with QED calculations and differ from the short-range approximation, while excluding the long-distance one. This paves the way for studying the CP effect across various surface properties and geometries, as well as exploring the tensor nature of the atom-surface potential -- all important for the development of hybrid atomic optical-magnetic quantum devices.
Casimir and Casimir-Polder effects are forces between electrically neutral bodies and particles in vacuum, arising entirely from quantum fluctuations. The modification to the vacuum electromagnetic-field modes imposed by the presence of any particle or surface can result in these mechanical forces, which are often the dominant interaction at small separations. These effects play an increasingly critical role in the operation of micro- and nano-mechanical systems as well as miniaturized atomic traps for precision sensors and quantum-information devices. Despite their fundamental importance, calculations present theoretical and numeric challenges, and precise atom-surface potential measurements are lacking in many geometric and distance regimes. \n \nThe spectroscopic measurement of Casimir-Polder-induced energy level shifts in optical-lattice trapped atoms offers a new experimental method to probe atom-surface interactions. Strontium, the current front-runner among optical frequency metrology systems, has demonstrated characteristics ideal for such precision measurements. An alkaline earth atom possessing ultra-narrow intercombination transitions, strontium can be loaded into an optical lattice at the “magic” wavelength where the probe transition is unperturbed by the trap light. Translation of the lattice will permit controlled transport of tightly-confined atomic samples to well-calibrated atom- surface separations, while optical transition shifts serve as a direct probe of the Casimir-Polder potential. \n \nWe have constructed a strontium magneto-optical trap (MOT) for future Casimir-Polder experiments. This thesis will describe the strontium apparatus, initial trap performance, and some details of the proposed measurement procedure.
We present the first direct measurements of Casimir-Polder forces between solid surfaces and atomic gases in the transition regime between the electrostatic short-distance and the retarded long-distance limit. The experimental method is based on ultracold ground-state Rb atoms that are reflected from evanescent wave barriers at the surface of a dielectric glass prism. Our novel approach does not require assumptions about the potential shape. The experimental data are compared to the theoretical predictions valid in the different regimes. They agree best with a full QED calculation.
The authors propose a novel experiment based on atoms trapped close to a macroscopic surface, to study the interactions between the atoms and the surface at very small separations (0.6 to 10 mum). In this range the dominant potential is the QED interaction (Casimir-Polder and Van der Waals) between the surface and the atom. Additionally, several theoretical models suggest the possibility of Yukawa type potentials with sub-mm range, arising from new physics related to gravity. The paper proposes a set-up very similar to neutral atom optical lattice clocks, but with the atoms trapped in lattice sites close to the reflecting mirror. A sequence of pulses of the probe laser at different frequencies is then used to create an interferometer with a coherent superposition between atomic states at different distances from the mirror (in different lattice sites). Assuming atom interferometry state of the art measurement of the phase difference and a duration of the superposition of about 0.1s we expect to be able to measure the potential difference between separated states with an uncertainty of about 10-4Hz. A preliminary analysis of systematic effects for different atoms (Sr, Yb, Rb, Cs) indicates no fundamentally limiting effect at the same level of uncertainty, but does influence the choice of atom and isotope. Based on those estimates, we expect that such an experiment would improve the best existing measurements of the atom-wall QED interaction by <2 orders of magnitude, whilst gaining up to 4 orders of magnitude on the best present limits on new interactions in the range between 100 nm and 100mum
In recent years, cold atoms have been the centerpiece of many remarkably sensitive measurements, and much effort has been made to devise miniaturized quantum sensors and quantum information processing devices. At small distances, however, mechanical effects of the quantum vacuum begin to significantly impact the behavior of the cold-atom systems. A better understanding of how surface composition and geometry affect Casimir and Casimir--Polder potentials would benefit future engineering of small-scale devices. Unfortunately, theoretical solutions are limited and the number of experimental techniques that can accurately detect such short-range forces is relatively small. \n \nWe believe the exemplary properties of atomic strontium---which have enabled unprecedented frequency metrology in optical lattice clocks---make it an ideal candidate for probing slight spectroscopic perturbations caused by vacuum fluctuations. \n \nTo that end, we have constructed a magneto-optical trap for strontium to enable future study of atom--surface potentials, and the apparatus and proposed detection scheme are discussed herein. Of special note is a passively stable external-cavity diode laser we developed that is both affordable and competitive with high-end commercial options.
We describe an experiment based on atoms trapped close to a macroscopic surface, to study the interactions between the atoms and the surface at very small separations $(0.6--10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m})$. In this range the dominant potential is the QED interaction (Casimir-Polder and van der Waals) between the surface and the atom. Additionally, several theoretical models suggest the possibility of Yukawa-type potentials with sub-millimeter range, arising from new physics related to gravity. The proposed setup is very similar to neutral atom optical lattice clocks, but with the atoms trapped in lattice sites close to the reflecting mirror. A sequence of pulses of the probe laser at different frequencies is then used to create an interferometer with a coherent superposition between atomic states at different distances from the mirror (in different lattice sites). Assuming atom interferometry state-of-the-art measurement of the phase difference and a duration of the superposition of about 0.1s, we expect to be able to measure the potential difference between separated states with an uncertainty of $\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$. An analysis of systematic effects for different atoms and surfaces indicates no fundamentally limiting effect at the same level of uncertainty, but does influence the choice of atom and surface material. Based on those estimates, we expect that such an experiment would improve the best existing measurements of the atom-wall QED interaction by \ensuremath{\geqslant} 2 orders of magnitude, while gaining up to four orders of magnitude on the best present limits on new interactions in the range between 100nm and $100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$.
Highly excited (Rydberg) atoms have exaggerated properties making them extremely sensitive to external electromagnetic fields and interacting strongly with their environment. Atomic vapor cells represent an attractive platform for studying Rydberg atoms and fabricating quantum devices. For example, Rydberg atoms in vapor cells have been used as sensitive detectors of electric fields of frequencies ranging from DC up to the THz range but also as single photon sources for quantum technology applications exploiting collective phenomena due to the Rydberg blockade effect [1]. Rydberg atoms also find applications in fundamental physics, in particular for the measurement of dispersive interactions of the Casimir-Polder type (atom-surface interactions) [2]. One major advantage of Rydberg atoms is that they expose limitations in the traditional perturbative approach of Casimir-Polder (CP) theory [3, 4]. Indeed, in the extreme near-field, the dipole approximation breaks down and higher-order terms need to be considered. We report on extensive experimental measurements of the Rydberg-surface interaction using spectroscopy in cesium vapor nanocells of a thickness ranging roughly from 200-700nm, as well as selective reflection spectroscopy on a macroscopic cesium all-sapphire cell. Atoms are first excited to the Cs(6P) level with a 894nm pump laser and subsequently a green laser ≈ 510nm probes Rydberg nD or nS states, where the principal quantum number n ranges between 15-17. Our experiments evidence the dipole-dipole term of the Casimir-Polder interaction providing a measurement of the C3 coefficient for cesium Rydberg states. Furthermore, our experiment clearly evidences an additional interaction that induces shifts and broadens the linewidth of the probed transitions in the vicinity of the dielectric windows of our cells. We believe that this interaction is due to electric fields that are either generated by patch charges (trapped on the surface or induced by the excitation lasers), or by cesium adsorbants. We show that the different polarizability (of opposing sign) between S and D Rydberg states can be exploited to extract quantitative measurements of the strength and distance scaling (z-dependence) of such parasitic electrostatic interactions.Our experiments suggest that the sensitivity of Rydberg atoms to external electric fields could provide a unique tool for probing electrostatic interactions in the vicinity of surfaces. This could allow systematic error corrections in Casimir-Polder experiments with excited or even ground state atoms that aim at putting bounds on the existence of non-Newtonian gravity [5]. We are currently exploring the possibility of coating the internal window interfaces with conducting 2D material such as graphene to reduce the influence of parasitic charges. This could allow us to probe atoms closer to the surface, where quadrupole interactions could be experimentally attainable for the first time [4].References[1] H. Kubler, J. P. Shaffer, T. Baluktsian, R. Loew, T. Pfau, Nat. Photon., 4, 112–116 (2013).[2] V. Sandoghdar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett 68, 3432–3435 (1993).[3] J. A. Crosse et al., Phys. Rev. A 82, 3010901 (2010).[4] B. Dutta et al., Phys. Rev. Res. 6, L022035 (2024).[5] A. Laliotis, B-S. Lu, M. Ducloy, D. Wilkowski, AVS Quantum Sci. 3, 043501 (2021).