Casimir-Polder interaction at finite temperature

We show that Casimir-Polder forces between two relativistic uniformly accelerated atoms exhibit a transition from the short distance thermal-like behavior predicted by the Unruh effect to a long distance nonthermal behavior, associated with the breakdown of a local inertial description of the system. This phenomenology extends the Unruh thermal response detected by a single accelerated observer to an accelerated spatially extended system of two particles, and we identify the characteristic length scale for this crossover with the inverse of the proper acceleration of the two atoms. Our results are derived separating at fourth order in perturbation theory the contributions of vacuum fluctuations and radiation reaction field to the Casimir-Polder interaction between two atoms moving in two generic stationary trajectories separated by a constant distance and linearly coupled to a scalar field. The field can be assumed in its vacuum state or at finite temperature, resulting in a general method for the computation of Casimir- Polder forces in stationary regimes

show abstract

“…as it has been already noticed for the electromagnetic case [7,31]. Unruh corrections to Casimir-Polder interactions.…”

supporting

confidence: 60%

Thermal and Nonthermal Signatures of the Unruh Effect in Casimir-Polder Forces

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A similar interpretation may be done for equations (26)(27). The first of them may be understood as the power absorbed by the system S from the reservoir fluctuations and the second represents the power dissipated by the system or, equivalently, the power lost to the reservoir.…”

Section: General Expressionsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Equations (24)(25)(26)(27) are the general expressions for the level shifts and the exchange energy rates of a small system interacting with a reservoir. The physical interpretation of equations (24-25) is simple.…”

Section: General Expressionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Atom–wall dispersive forces from the master equation formalism

Mendes¹,

Farina²

2007

J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using the general expressions for level shifts obtained from the master equation for a small system interacting with a large one considered as a reservoir, we calculate the dispersive potentials between an atom and a wall in the dipole approximation. We analyze in detail the particular case of a two-level atom in the presence of a perfectly conducting wall. We study the van der Waals as well as the resonant interactions. All distance regimes as well as the high and low temperature regimes are considered. We show that the Casimir-Polder interaction can not be considered as a direct result of the vacuum fluctuations only. Concerning the interaction between the atom and the wall at high temperature, which show that a saturation of the potential for all distances occurs. This saturated potential coincides exactly with that obtained in the London-van der Waals limit.

show abstract

“…A first approach to this problem can be done by extending a procedure developed in [15] for the Casimir-Polder interaction at finite temperature, to the case of accelerated atoms, on the basis of the equivalence between temperature and acceleration expressed by the Unruh effect. Following this method one finds, in the low acceleration limit (a ≪ ω 0 c), a qualitative change of the distance dependence of the interaction energy due to the acceleration in the far zone, and a correction in the near zone [16].…”

Section: Van Der Waals/casimir-polder Interaction Energy Between Two mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a uniform acceleration on atom–field interactions

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We review some quantum electrodynamical effects related to the uniform acceleration of atoms in vacuum. After discussing the energy level shifts of a uniformly accelerated atom in vacuum, we investigate the atom-wall Casimir-Polder force for accelerated atoms, and the van der Waals/Casimir-Polder interaction between two accelerated atoms. The possibility of detecting the Unruh effect through these phenomena is also discussed in detail.

show abstract

Casimir-Polder interaction at finite temperature

Cited by 33 publications

References 14 publications

Thermal and Nonthermal Signatures of the Unruh Effect in Casimir-Polder Forces

Thermal and Nonthermal Signatures of the Unruh Effect in Casimir-Polder Forces

Atom–wall dispersive forces from the master equation formalism

Effects of a uniform acceleration on atom–field interactions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About