Non-additivity of optical and Casimir-Polder potentials

TL;DR

This paper reveals a new non-additive potential for atoms near surfaces, caused by the combined effects of laser fields and quantum vacuum, which can significantly alter atomic trapping potentials.

Contribution

It introduces the laser-induced Casimir--Polder potential, demonstrating its importance and potential for atom trapping near surfaces, a novel effect not previously characterized.

Findings

Non-additive potential significantly affects atomic trapping.

Potential barriers can become potential wells due to this effect.

The effect is relevant for realistic experimental parameters.

Abstract

An atom irradiated by an off-resonant laser field near a surface is expected to experience the sum of two fundamental potentials, the optical potential of the laser field and the Casimir--Polder potential of the surface. Here, we report a new non-additive potential, namely the laser-induced Casimir--Polder potential, which arises from a correlated coupling of the atom with both the laser and the quantum vacuum. We apply this result to an experimentally realizable scenario of an atomic mirror with an evanescent laser beam leaking out of a surface. We show that the non-additive term is significant for realistic experimental parameters, transforming potential barriers into potential wells, which can be used to trap atoms near surfaces.