Probing atom-surface interactions by diffraction of Bose-Einstein condensates

TL;DR

This paper investigates atom-surface interactions using Bose-Einstein condensate diffraction to distinguish between different theoretical models of Casimir-Polder forces near structured surfaces.

Contribution

It introduces a method to probe the combined atom-surface potential landscape via diffraction patterns of Bose-Einstein condensates, enabling model comparison.

Findings

Diffraction efficiencies reflect the shape of Casimir-Polder interactions.

Experimental data can differentiate between Hamaker and Lifshitz models.

The approach provides local probing of atom-surface potentials.

Abstract

In this article we analyze the Casimir-Polder interaction of atoms with a solid grating and an additional repulsive interaction between the atoms and the grating in the presence of an external laser source. The combined potential landscape above the solid body is probed locally by diffraction of Bose-Einstein condensates. Measured diffraction efficiencies reveal information about the shape of the Casimir-Polder interaction and allow us to discern between models based on a pairwise-summation (Hamaker) approach and Lifshitz theory.