Hannover 2010 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 55: Poster II

Q 55.61: Poster

Thursday, March 11, 2010, 16:00–19:00, Lichthof

Quantum friction for particles near a metal — •Gregor Pieplow, Harald Haakh, Francesco Intravaia, and Carsten Henkel — Universität Potsdam, Germany

Quantum friction refers to the deceleration of a neutral or charged particle moving parallel to a half space filled by a dielectric or metal [1]. This was also investigated with plates moving parallel to each other at constant speed. The existence of this friction force has not yet been agreed upon for the zero temperature case [1,2]. QED calculations require the solution of the Maxwell equations with the respective boundary conditions. For realistic systems, symmetry breaking due to finite conductivity of the reflecting plane plays an important role and the role of longitudinal electric fields must be evaluated carefully. We discuss the consistency of previous approaches and their application to the zero temperature case. Our approach rigorously implements Lorentz covariance parallel to the surface.

[1] A.I. Volokitin, B.N.J. Persson, Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 1291 (2007). [2] T. G. Philbin and U. Leonhardt, New J. Phys. 11, 033035 (2009).