New asymptotic behavior of the surface-atom force out of thermal equilibrium

The Casimir-Polder-Lifshitz force felt by an atom near the surface of a substrate is calculated out of thermal equilibrium in terms of the dielectric function of the material and of the atomic polarizability. The new force decays like 1/z3 at large distances (i.e., slower than at equilibrium), exhib...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2005-09, Vol.95 (11), p.113202-113202, Article 113202
Main Authors: Antezza, Mauro, Pitaevskii, Lev P, Stringari, Sandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic Physics
ATOMS
CASIMIR EFFECT
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
GASES
METALS
Physics
POLARIZABILITY
POTENTIAL ENERGY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM
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Summary:The Casimir-Polder-Lifshitz force felt by an atom near the surface of a substrate is calculated out of thermal equilibrium in terms of the dielectric function of the material and of the atomic polarizability. The new force decays like 1/z3 at large distances (i.e., slower than at equilibrium), exhibits a sizable temperature dependence, and is attractive or repulsive depending on whether the temperature of the substrate is higher or smaller than the one of the environment. Our predictions can be relevant for experiments with ultracold atomic gases. Both dielectric and metal substrates are considered.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.113202