Fluctuation-mediated interactions of atoms and surfaces on a mesoscopic scale

Thermal and quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic near field of atoms and macroscopic bodies play a key role in quantum electrodynamics (QED), as in the Lamb shift. They lead, e.g., to atomic level shifts, dispersion interactions (Van der Waals-Casimir-Polder interactions), and state broadening (Purcell effect) because the field is subject to boundary conditions. Such effects can be observed with high precision on the mesoscopic scale which can be accessed in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and solid-state-based magnetic microtraps for cold atoms (‘atom chips’). A quantum field theory of atoms (molecules) and photons is adapted to nonequilibrium situations. Atoms and photons are described as fully quantized while macroscopic bodies can be included in terms of classical reflection amplitudes, similar to the scattering approach of cavity QED. The formalism is applied to the study of nonequilibrium two-body potentials. We then investigate the impact of the material properties of metals on the electromagnetic surface noise, with applications to atomic trapping in atom-chip setups and quantum computing, and on the magnetic dipole contribution to the Van der Waals-Casimir-Polder potential in and out of thermal equilibrium. In both cases, the particular properties of superconductors are of high interest. Surface-mode contributions, which dominate the near-field fluctuations, are discussed in the context of the (partial) dynamic atomic dressing after a rapid change of a system parameter and in the Casimir interaction between two conducting plates, where nonequilibrium configurations can give rise to repulsion.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Potsdam

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Haakh, Harald Richard

Contributors dc:contributor

• Henkel, Carsten

• Resonator Quantenelektrodynamik
• Atom-Oberflächenwechselwirkung
• Van der Waals Kräfte
• Atom-Chips
• Quantenfluktuationen
• cavity quantum electrodynamics
• atom-surface interaction
• Van der Waals forces
• atom chips
• quantum fluctuations

Statement dc:rights

• Creative Commons - Namensnennung - Nicht-kommerziell - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 3.0 Unported

Repository record source_url

https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/5975

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kobv.de-opus4-uni-potsdam:5975