Measurement of the Casimir-Polder force through center-of-mass oscillations of a Bose-Einstein condensate

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033610· OSTI ID:20718598

Harber, D M; Obrecht, J M; McGuirk, J M; Cornell, E A ^[1]

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1. JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440 (United States)

We have performed a measurement of the Casimir-Polder force using a magnetically trapped {sup 87}Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. By detecting perturbations of the frequency of center-of-mass oscillations of the condensate perpendicular to the surface, we are able to detect this force at a distance {approx}5 {mu}m, significantly farther than has been previously achieved, and at a precision approaching that needed to detect the modification due to thermal radiation. Additionally, this technique provides a limit for the presence of non-Newtonian gravity forces in the {approx}1 {mu}m range.

• OSTI ID: 20718598
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 72, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033610; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCURACY
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION
CASIMIR EFFECT
CENTER-OF-MASS SYSTEM
DISTANCE
DISTURBANCES
GRAVITATION
OSCILLATIONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
RUBIDIUM 87
THERMAL RADIATION
TRAPPING