Problems in the Lifshitz Theory of Atom-Wall Interaction

TL;DR

This paper examines issues in the Lifshitz theory of atom-wall interactions, especially when including dc conductivity, revealing thermodynamic inconsistencies and analyzing recent modifications that violate fundamental thermodynamic principles.

Contribution

The paper critically reviews the Lifshitz theory's low-temperature behavior and demonstrates that including dc conductivity or screening effects leads to violations of thermodynamics.

Findings

Including dc conductivity causes thermodynamic inconsistencies.

Screening effects and diffusion currents violate the Nernst heat theorem.

The physical reasons for these inconsistencies are clarified.

Abstract

Problems in the Lifshitz theory of atom-wall interaction arise when the dc conductivity of dielectric wall is included into the model of the dielectric response. We review the low-temperature behavior of the free energy and entropy of dispersion interaction for both dielectric and metallic walls. Consistency of the obtained results with thermodynamics and experimental data is analyzed. Recent attempts to include the screening effects and diffusion currents into the Lifshitz theory are considered. It is shown that this leads to the violation of the Nernst heat theorem for wide classes of wall materials. The physical reasons for the emergence of thermodynamic and experimental inconsistencies are elucidated.