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

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

2008-09-30

arxiv.org/abs/0809.5229v1

Phys. Rev. A, v.78, N4, 042901-(1-11) (2008).

Physics

Quantum Physics

24 pages, 4 figures; Phys. Rev. A, accepted for publication

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevA.78.042901

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${}^{\ast}$ 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.

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