Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 34: Quantum Effects: QED I
Q 34.1: Group Report
Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 11:00–11:30, B/SR
Electromagnetic friction on moving atoms – an analysis within quantum field theory — Francesco Intravaia1, Vanik E. Mkrtchian2,3, Stefan Buhmann4, Stefan Scheel5, Diego A. R. Dalvit6, and •Carsten Henkel3 — 1Max-Born-Institut Berlin, Germany — 2Armenian Academy of Sciences, Armenia — 3University of Potsdam, Germany — 4Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany — 5Universität Rostock, Germany — 6Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA
An atom moving near a macroscopic body experiences an electromagnetic friction force that depends on velocity v and temperature T. The quantum limit T = 0 has given rise to different predictions in the literature [1]. We revisit this problem in the formulation put forward by G. Barton [2] based on a quantum field theory of an atom and plasmon-polariton modes of the surface. We show that the way the atom is boosted from being initially at rest to a constant velocity gives rise to a different power dissipated into surface plasmons and the associated friction force. We find a subtle cancellation between the processes creating one and two photons that results in a leading-order contribution to the friction force which scales as v3 at zero temperature and small velocities.
[1] A. I. Volokitin and B. N. J. Persson, Rev. Mod. Phys. 79 (2007) 1291; S. Scheel and S. Y. Buhmann, Phys. Rev. A 80 (2009) 042902; F. Intravaia, R. O. Behunin, and D. A. R Dalvit, Phys. Rev. A 89 (2014) 050101(R)
[2] G. Barton, New J. Phys. 12 (2010) 113045