Nonequilibrium atom-surface interaction with lossy multi-layer structures

TL;DR

This paper investigates how lossy multi-layer structures influence nonequilibrium atom-surface interactions, revealing enhanced quantum friction effects and potential for tailoring interactions through structural modifications.

Contribution

It provides a non-Markovian, nonequilibrium analysis of quantum friction on atoms near multi-layer structures, highlighting the role of coupled interface polaritons.

Findings

Drag force is significantly enhanced in multi-layer systems.

Different velocity and distance regimes are identified.

Structural modifications can tailor atom-surface interactions.

Abstract

The impact of lossy multi-layer structures on nonequilibrium atom-surface interactions is discussed. Specifically, the focus lies on a fully non-Markovian and nonequilibrium description of quantum friction, the fluctuation-induced drag force acting on an atom moving at constant velocity and height above the multi-layer structures. Compared to unstructured bulk material, the drag force for multi-layer systems is considerably enhanced and exhibits different regimes in its velocity and distance dependences. These features are linked to the appearance of coupled interface polaritons within the superlattice structures. Our results are not only useful for an experimental investigation of quantum friction but also highlight a way to tailor the interaction by simply modifying the structural composition of the multi-layer systems.