Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:quant-ph/0503038 · Physical Review A

Dependences of the van der Waals atom-wall interaction on atomic and material properties

A. O. Caride, G. L. Klimchitskaya, V. M. Mostepanenko, Susana I. Zanette

Published Apr 6, 2005• 107 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The 1%-accurate calculations of the van der Waals interaction between an atom and a cavity wall are performed in the separation region from $3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. The cases of metastable ${\mathrm{He}}^{*}$ and Na atoms near metal, semiconductor, and dielectric walls are considered. Different approximations to the description of wall material and atomic dynamic polarizability are carefully compared. The smooth transition to the Casimir-Polder interaction is verified. It is shown that to obtain accurate results for the atom-wall van der Waals interaction at short separations with an error less than 1% one should use the complete optical-tabulated data for the complex refractive index of the wall material and the accurate dynamic polarizability of an atom. The obtained results may be useful for the theoretical interpretation of recent experiments on quantum reflection and Bose-Einstein condensation of ultracold atoms on or near surfaces of different kinds.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.71.042901

Related papers

van der Waals coefficients for alkali-metal atoms in material media

Bindiya Arora, B. K. Sahoo

The ${C}_{3}$ coefficients and their ratios for the alkali-metal atoms are determined very accurately by taking into account the optical properties of the atoms and four distinct types of trapping materials such as Au (metal), Si (semiconductor), vitreous ${\text{SiO}}_{2}$ (dielectric), and ${\text{SiN}}_{x}$ (dielectric). Dynamic dipole polarizabilities are calculated precisely for the alkali-metal atoms that produce ${C}_{3}$ coefficients in a perfectly conducting medium within 0.2% accuracy. Thus, uncertainties from the atomic polarizabilities in the evaluation of the material-dependent ${C}_{3}$ coefficients are small and accuracies of these ${C}_{3}$ values mainly rely on the used optical data which are not taken into account in the present work. Our findings are in very good agreement with the available measurements, but they differ by around 10% from the previously reported high-precision calculations in heavy atoms for the perfect conductors. We also revisit the dispersion coefficients for the alkali-metal dimers and evaluate them using the above dynamic dipole polarizabilities which provide slightly different error bars than the other reported precise results. These coefficients are fitted into a ready-to-use functional form to aid the experimentalists in finding out the interaction potential only with the knowledge of atom-wall distance.

arXiv:1309.4897•Physical Review A•Feb 18, 2014•16 citations

Lifshitz theory of atom-wall interaction with applications to quantum reflection

V. B. Bezerra, G. L. Klimchitskaya, V. M. Mostepanenko +1 more

The Casimir-Polder interaction of an atom with a metallic wall is investigated in the framework of the Lifshitz theory. It is demonstrated that in some temperature (separation) region the Casimir-Polder entropy takes negative values and goes to zero when the temperature vanishes. This result is obtained both for an ideal metal wall and for real metal walls. Simple analytical representations for the Casimir-Polder free energy and force are also obtained. These results are used to make a comparison between the phenomenological potential used in the theoretical description of quantum reflection and exact atom-wall interaction energy, as given by the Lifshitz theory. Computations are performed for the atom of metastable ${\mathrm{He}}^{*}$ interacting with metal (Au) and dielectric (Si) walls. It is shown that the relative differences between the exact and phenomenological interaction energies are smaller in the case of a metallic wall. This is explained by the effect of negative entropy which occurs only for a metal wall. More accurate atom-wall interaction energies computed here can be used for the interpretation of measurement data in the experiments on quantum reflection.

arXiv:0809.5229•Physical Review A•Oct 22, 2008•72 citations

Atom-Wall interaction

Daniel Bloch, M. Ducloy

This chapter deals with atom-wall interaction occurring in the "long-range" regime (typical distances: 1-1000 nm), when the electromagnetic fluctuations of an isolated atom are modified by the vicinity with a surface. Various regimes of interaction are discussed in an Introductory part, from Cavity Quantum ElectroDynamics modifications of the spontaneous emission, to Casimir effect, with emphasis on the atom-surface van der Waals interaction, characterized as a near-field interaction governed by a z-3 dependence. The major part of the Chapter focuses on the experimental measurements of this van der Waals interaction, reviewing various recent techniques, and insists upon optical techniques, and notably selective reflection spectroscopy which is particularly well-suited when excited atoms are considered. A review of various experiments illustrates the specific effects associated with a resonant coupling between the atomic excitation and surface modes, from van der Waals repulsion to surface-induced resonant transfer, and with anisotropy effects, including metastability transfer induced by a quadrupole contribution in the interaction. The effects of a thermal excitation of the surface -with a possible remote energy transfer to an atom-, and of interaction with nanobodies -which are intrinsically non planar- are notably discussed among the prospects.

arXiv:physics/0503146•Mar 17, 2005•0 citations

Anisotropic atom-surface interactions in the Casimir-Polder regime

Thierry Taillandier-Loize, J. Baudon, G. Dutier +3 more

The distance dependence of the anisotropic atom-wall interaction is studied. The central result is the $1/{z}^{6}$ quadrupolar anisotropy decay in the retarded Casimir-Polder regime. Analysis of the transition region between nonretarded van der Waals regime (in $1/{z}^{3}$) and Casimir-Polder regime shows that the anisotropy crossover occurs at very short distances from the surface, on the order of $0.03\ensuremath{\lambda}$, where $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is the atom characteristic wavelength. Possible experimental verifications of this distance dependence using surface-induced inelastic transitions are discussed.

arXiv:1403.5216•Physical Review A•May 19, 2014•9 citations

Calculation of the Casimir-Polder interaction between Bose-Einstein condensates and microengineered surfaces: a pairwise-summation approach

Mohamad Nazri Abdul Halif, Riccardo Messina, T. M. Fromhold

Understanding the Casimir-Polder (CP) attraction between ultracold atoms and dielectric surfaces is of fundamental importance to the design and miniaturization of atom chips [1] and for understanding quantum reflection from, and sticking to, the surface [2 - 6]. So far, calculations have focussed on planar dielectrics, either semi-infinite or of finite width [7-9], and non-planar geometries including corrugated surfaces [10], spheres and carbon nanotubes [11-12]. Here, we present a simple scheme, based on the Pairwise-Summation (PWS) approximation, for estimating the CP interaction between a ground-state alkali atom and a dielectric volume of arbitrary shape. The PWS approximation integrates the van der Waals interaction between two ground-state atoms over the many atoms in the surface volume. We relate the microscopic polarizability of atoms in the surface to the bulk dielectric constant via the Clausius-Mossotti relation within the Lorentz local-field theory. We find that the CP potential depends strongly on both the geometry and density of the surface, which modify the fluctuation spectrum of the electromagnetic field that couples the alkali atoms to the dielectric. We compare our results with known analytical expressions for the CP potential near planar surfaces and use them to investigate how BECs interact with, and may quantum reflect from, curvilinear surface structures.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Mar 1, 2011•4 citations

High-Precision Calculations of Dispersion Coefficients, Static Dipole Polarizabilities, and Atom-Wall Interaction Constants for Alkali-Metal Atoms

Andrei Derevianko, W. R. Johnson, Marianna S. Safronova +1 more

The van der Waals coefficients for the alkali-metal atoms from Na to Fr interacting in their ground states are calculated using relativistic ab initio methods. The accuracy of the calculations is estimated by also evaluating atomic static electric-dipole polarizabilities and coefficients for the interaction of the atoms with a perfectly conducting wall. The results are in excellent agreement with the latest data from studies of magnetic field induced Feshbach resonances in ultracold collisions of Na and of Rb atoms. For Cs we provide critically needed data for ultracold collision studies.

arXiv:physics/9812028•Physical Review Letters•May 3, 1999•365 citations
The 1%-accurate calculations of the van der Waals interaction between an atom and a cavity wall are performed in the separation region from 3nmto150nm3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}3nmto150nm. The cases of metastable He∗{\mathrm{He}}^{*}He∗ and Na atoms near metal, semiconductor, and dielectric walls are considered. Different approximations to the description of wall material and atomic dynamic polarizability are carefully compared. The smooth transition to the Casimir-Polder interaction is verified. It is shown that to obtain accurate results for the atom-wall van der Waals interaction at short separations with an error less than 1% one should use the complete optical-tabulated data for the complex refractive index of the wall material and the accurate dynamic polarizability of an atom. The obtained results may be useful for the theoretical interpretation of recent experiments on quantum reflection and Bose-Einstein condensation of ultracold atoms on or near surfaces of different kinds.
The C3{C}_{3}C3​ coefficients and their ratios for the alkali-metal atoms are determined very accurately by taking into account the optical properties of the atoms and four distinct types of trapping materials such as Au (metal), Si (semiconductor), vitreous SiO2{\text{SiO}}_{2}SiO2​ (dielectric), and SiNx{\text{SiN}}_{x}SiNx​ (dielectric). Dynamic dipole polarizabilities are calculated precisely for the alkali-metal atoms that produce C3{C}_{3}C3​ coefficients in a perfectly conducting medium within 0.2% accuracy. Thus, uncertainties from the atomic polarizabilities in the evaluation of the material-dependent C3{C}_{3}C3​ coefficients are small and accuracies of these C3{C}_{3}C3​ values mainly rely on the used optical data which are not taken into account in the present work. Our findings are in very good agreement with the available measurements, but they differ by around 10% from the previously reported high-precision calculations in heavy atoms for the perfect conductors. We also revisit the dispersion coefficients for the alkali-metal dimers and evaluate them using the above dynamic dipole polarizabilities which provide slightly different error bars than the other reported precise results. These coefficients are fitted into a ready-to-use functional form to aid the experimentalists in finding out the interaction potential only with the knowledge of atom-wall distance.
The Casimir-Polder interaction of an atom with a metallic wall is investigated in the framework of the Lifshitz theory. It is demonstrated that in some temperature (separation) region the Casimir-Polder entropy takes negative values and goes to zero when the temperature vanishes. This result is obtained both for an ideal metal wall and for real metal walls. Simple analytical representations for the Casimir-Polder free energy and force are also obtained. These results are used to make a comparison between the phenomenological potential used in the theoretical description of quantum reflection and exact atom-wall interaction energy, as given by the Lifshitz theory. Computations are performed for the atom of metastable He∗{\mathrm{He}}^{*}He∗ interacting with metal (Au) and dielectric (Si) walls. It is shown that the relative differences between the exact and phenomenological interaction energies are smaller in the case of a metallic wall. This is explained by the effect of negative entropy which occurs only for a metal wall. More accurate atom-wall interaction energies computed here can be used for the interpretation of measurement data in the experiments on quantum reflection.
This chapter deals with atom-wall interaction occurring in the "long-range" regime (typical distances: 1-1000 nm), when the electromagnetic fluctuations of an isolated atom are modified by the vicinity with a surface. Various regimes of interaction are discussed in an Introductory part, from Cavity Quantum ElectroDynamics modifications of the spontaneous emission, to Casimir effect, with emphasis on the atom-surface van der Waals interaction, characterized as a near-field interaction governed by a z-3 dependence. The major part of the Chapter focuses on the experimental measurements of this van der Waals interaction, reviewing various recent techniques, and insists upon optical techniques, and notably selective reflection spectroscopy which is particularly well-suited when excited atoms are considered. A review of various experiments illustrates the specific effects associated with a resonant coupling between the atomic excitation and surface modes, from van der Waals repulsion to surface-induced resonant transfer, and with anisotropy effects, including metastability transfer induced by a quadrupole contribution in the interaction. The effects of a thermal excitation of the surface -with a possible remote energy transfer to an atom-, and of interaction with nanobodies -which are intrinsically non planar- are notably discussed among the prospects.
The distance dependence of the anisotropic atom-wall interaction is studied. The central result is the 1/z61/{z}^{6}1/z6 quadrupolar anisotropy decay in the retarded Casimir-Polder regime. Analysis of the transition region between nonretarded van der Waals regime (in 1/z31/{z}^{3}1/z3) and Casimir-Polder regime shows that the anisotropy crossover occurs at very short distances from the surface, on the order of $0.03\ensuremath{\lambda}$, where $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is the atom characteristic wavelength. Possible experimental verifications of this distance dependence using surface-induced inelastic transitions are discussed.
Understanding the Casimir-Polder (CP) attraction between ultracold atoms and dielectric surfaces is of fundamental importance to the design and miniaturization of atom chips [1] and for understanding quantum reflection from, and sticking to, the surface [2 - 6]. So far, calculations have focussed on planar dielectrics, either semi-infinite or of finite width [7-9], and non-planar geometries including corrugated surfaces [10], spheres and carbon nanotubes [11-12]. Here, we present a simple scheme, based on the Pairwise-Summation (PWS) approximation, for estimating the CP interaction between a ground-state alkali atom and a dielectric volume of arbitrary shape. The PWS approximation integrates the van der Waals interaction between two ground-state atoms over the many atoms in the surface volume. We relate the microscopic polarizability of atoms in the surface to the bulk dielectric constant via the Clausius-Mossotti relation within the Lorentz local-field theory. We find that the CP potential depends strongly on both the geometry and density of the surface, which modify the fluctuation spectrum of the electromagnetic field that couples the alkali atoms to the dielectric. We compare our results with known analytical expressions for the CP potential near planar surfaces and use them to investigate how BECs interact with, and may quantum reflect from, curvilinear surface structures.
The van der Waals coefficients for the alkali-metal atoms from Na to Fr interacting in their ground states are calculated using relativistic ab initio methods. The accuracy of the calculations is estimated by also evaluating atomic static electric-dipole polarizabilities and coefficients for the interaction of the atoms with a perfectly conducting wall. The results are in excellent agreement with the latest data from studies of magnetic field induced Feshbach resonances in ultracold collisions of Na and of Rb atoms. For Cs we provide critically needed data for ultracold collision studies.