Mainz 2017 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 10: Quantum Effects: QED II
Q 10.3: Talk
Monday, March 6, 2017, 17:30–17:45, P 4
Van der Waals interaction at finite temperature — •Helge Dobbertin1, Pablo Barcellona2, Manuel Donaire3, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann2, and Stefan Scheel1 — 1Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 23, 18059 Rostock, Germany — 2Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany — 3Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS-CNRS-UPMC et Collège de France, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris, France
Dispersion forces such as van der Waals forces originate from electromagnetic field fluctuations, both quantum and thermal. One would expect a significant influence of the thermal fluctuations, e.g. in thermal vapors of Rydberg atoms, where strong van der Waals interactions have been demonstrated [1]. On the other hand, it is known that Rydberg dispersion interactions can become temperature-independent due to subtle cancellations [2]. Here, we present a general theory for the van der Waals interaction of excited atoms at finite temperature in the presence of macroscopic bodies within the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. We show limiting cases of high temperature and discuss under which conditions temperature dependence or independence can be expected.
[1] T. Baluktsian et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 123001 (2013).
[2] S. Å. Ellingsen et al., Phys. Rev. A 84, 060501(R) (2011).