Fluctuations of the Casimir-Polder force between an atom and a conducting wall
Abstract
We consider quantum fluctuations of the Casimir-Polder force between a neutral atom and a perfectly conducting wall in the ground state of the system. In order to obtain the atom-wall force fluctuation we first define an operator directly associated with the force experienced by the atom considered as a polarizable body in an electromagnetic field and we use a time-averaged force operator in order to avoid ultraviolet divergences appearing in the fluctuation of the force. This time-averaged force operator takes into account that any measurement involves a finite time. We also calculate the Casimir-Polder force fluctuation for an atom between two conducting walls. Experimental observability of these Casimir-Polder force fluctuations is also discussed, as well as the dependence of the relative force fluctuation on the duration of the measurement.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- September 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.76.032107
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0706.1674
- Bibcode:
- 2007PhRvA..76c2107M
- Keywords:
-
- 12.20.Ds;
- 42.50.Ct;
- Specific calculations;
- Quantum description of interaction of light and matter;
- related experiments;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- 6 pages