Hannover 2016 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 71: Quantum Effects: QED IV

Q 71.4: Talk

Friday, March 4, 2016, 15:30–15:45, f442

Casimir–Polder interaction of neutrons with surfaces — •Valentin Gebhart, Juliane Klatt, and Stefan Yoshi Buhmann — Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Deutschland

Searching for an example of the elusive repulsive dispersion force we study the Casimir–Polder interaction of a neutron with a metal or dielectric plate. By using macroscopic quantum electrodynamics and perturbation theory we examine the position-dependent potential of the magnetizable neutron in front of a plate with arbitrary dielectric properties. We indeed find a purely repulsive dispersion interaction whose amplitude is very sensitive to the model used for the plate permittivity. Finally, we discuss the relevance of the proposed interaction in neutron-interferometry experiments [1].

[1] H. Rauch, H. Lemmel, M. Baron, R. Loidl, Measurement of a confinement induced neutron phase, Nature 417, 630 (2002).