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Quantum electrodynamics near anisotropic polarizable materials: Casimir-Polder shifts near multilayers of graphene

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posted on 2023-06-08, 14:42 authored by Claudia Eberlein, Robert Zietal
In a recent paper, we formulated a theory of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics in the presence of an inhomogeneous Huttner-Barnett dielectric. Here we generalize the formalism to anisotropic materials and show how it may be modified to include conducting surfaces. We start with the derivation of the photon propagator for a slab of material and use it to work out the energy-level shift near a medium whose conductivity in the direction parallel to the surface far exceeds that in the direction perpendicular to the surface. We investigate the influence of the anisotropy of the material's electromagnetic response on the Casimir-Polder shifts, both analytically and numerically, and show that it may have a significant impact on the atom-surface interaction, especially in the nonretarded regime, i.e., for small atom-surface separations. Our results for the energy shift may be used to estimate the Casimir-Polder force acting on quantum objects close to multilayers of graphene or graphite. They are particularly important for the case of trapped cold molecules whose dispersive interactions with surfaces often fall within the nonretarded regime where the anisotropy of the material strongly influences the Casimir-Polder force. We also give a formula for the change in the spontaneous decay rate of an excited atom or molecule near an anisotropically conducting surface.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Physical Review A

ISSN

1050-2947

Publisher

American Physical Society

Issue

6

Volume

86

Page range

062507-1

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-04-17

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2013-04-17

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2013-04-17

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