Casimir-Polder interatomic potential between two atoms at finite temperature and in the presence of boundary conditions

Journal Article · Mon Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.76.042112· OSTI ID:21020654

Passante, R; Spagnolo, S ^[1]

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1. Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche, dell'Universita degli Studi di Palermo and CNISM, Via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo (Italy)

We evaluate the Casimir-Polder potential between two atoms in the presence of an infinite perfectly conducting plate and at nonzero temperature. In order to calculate the potential, we use a method based on equal-time spatial correlations of the electric field, already used to evaluate the effect of boundary conditions on interatomic potentials. This method also gives a transparent physical picture of the role of a finite temperature and boundary conditions on the Casimir-Polder potential. We obtain an analytical expression of the potential both in the near and far zones, and consider several limiting cases of interest, according to the values of the parameters involved, such as atom-atom distance, atoms-wall distance, and temperature.

• OSTI ID: 21020654
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 76; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CASIMIR EFFECT
CORRELATIONS
DISTANCE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INTERATOMIC FORCES
PLATES
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE