Quantum friction on monoatomic layers and its classical analog

Abstract

We consider the effect of quantum friction at zero absolute temperature resulting from polaritonic interactions in closely positioned two-dimensional arrays of polarizable atoms (e.g., graphene sheets) or thin dielectric sheets modeled as such arrays. The arrays move one with respect to another with a nonrelativistic velocity v c. We confirm that quantum friction is inevitably related to material dispersion, and that such friction vanishes in nondispersive media. In addition, we consider a classical analog of the quantum friction which allows us to establish a link between the phenomena of quantum friction and classical parametric generation. In particular, we demonstrate how the quasiparticle generation rate typically obtained from the quantum Fermi golden rule can be calculated classically.

Optical Instabilities and Spontaneous Light Emission by Polarizable Moving Matter

“…In all the plots, k y ¼ 0, the solid lines represent the nonrelativistic calculation, and the dashed lines represent the exact relativistic calculation. but the reported effects may lead to exciting developments in the framework of quantum electrodynamics, particularly, in the context of noncontact quantum friction [24][25][26][27]. Furthermore, the present theory (see also Ref.…”

“…Furthermore, the present theory (see also Ref. [25]) raises the question of whether or not there is anything specifically "quantum" in some phenomena involving the quantum vacuum [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] and suggests that "quantum friction" and related effects may eventually be explained with classical arguments with the additional ingredient of a spectrum of random electromagnetic radiation [37].…”

“…Moreover, related optical instabilities have been recently linked to quantum friction in the case of nondispersive dielectric slabs [25][26][27] (see also Ref. [24]).…”

Theory of quantum friction

“…Quantum friction is a theory that predicts that two uncharged polarizable bodies moving relative to each other experience a force of quantum origin that tends to work against the relative motion [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. This effect is predicted to take place even at zero temperature and when the surfaces of the moving bodies are flat and perfectly smooth (the materials are regarded as continuous media).…”

“…For many authors, quantum friction is understood as a purely quantum effect with no classical analogue. Recently, it was shown in reference [8] that for the case of sliding monoatomic surfaces, the effect of friction is associated with electromagnetic instabilities in moving media that can lead to the creation of polaritons. Very interestingly, these electromagnetic instabilities are partly connected to the Cherenkov [14] and Smith-Purcell effects [15], and can be predicted by classical electrodynamics.…”