Casimir-Polder interaction between an atom and a periodic nanostructure

Journal Article · Thu Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.81.042506· OSTI ID:21408595

Yannopapas, V ^[1]; Vitanov, N V ^[2]

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1. Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, GR-26504 Patras (Greece)
2. Department of Physics, Sofia University, James Bourchier 5 blvd., BG-1164 Sofia (Bulgaria)

We present a theory for the calculation of the Casimir-Polder potential experienced by an atom near the surface of a nanostructure. The potential is found by means of the electrodynamic Green's tensor based on a layer-multiple-scattering method. We calculate the distance law of the Casimir-Polder potential for a monolayer of metallic and dielectric nanospheres arranged periodically on a square lattice. We find, in particular, that the Casimir-Polder potential for a metallic nanostructure is practically independent of the type of the metal from which the nanostructure is made. Also, the Casimir-Polder potential shows an exponential decay close to the nanostructure and an inverse power-law decrease away from it wherein the exponent depends on the size of the spheres of the nanostructure.

• OSTI ID: 21408595
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 81; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ATOMS
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DECAY
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELEMENTS
INTERACTIONS
MATERIALS
METALS
MULTIPLE SCATTERING
NANOSTRUCTURES
PERIODICITY
POTENTIALS
SCATTERING
TENSORS
TETRAGONAL LATTICES
VARIATIONS