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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 68: Matter Wave Optics I

Q 68.1: Gruppenbericht

Freitag, 27. März 2015, 11:00–11:30, K/HS2

Impact of Casimir--Polder potentials on matter-wave interference at compact obstacles — •Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, Joshua Hemmerich, and Max Könne — Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

The Casimir--Polder interaction between an atom or molecule and a dielectric or metallic object arise due to the unavoidable zero-point fluctuations of the atomic or molecular electric dipole. As a consequence, the matter wave of a polarisable system is subject to a position-dependent Casimir--Polder potential in the vicinity of such objects. The resulting phase shift is manifest as a change of the interference pattern observed behind the scattering object.

We study Casimir--Polder potentials near dielectric discs and spheres in order to quantify their impact on matter-wave interference with Poisson-spot signals. The potentials are derived from macroscopic quantum electrodynamics, leading to exact solutions for spheres and Hamaker approximations for discs. Identifying different asymptotic regimes for the potentials, we discuss under which conditions nonretarded vs retarded Casimir--Polder potentials and edge effects for these potentials may potentially be observed and resolved in Poisson-spot experiments.