Probing the geometry dependence of the Casimir-Polder interaction by matter-wave diffraction at a nano-grating

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the Casimir-Polder interaction affects matter-wave diffraction through a nanograting, emphasizing the importance of accurate potential modeling for precise measurements.

Contribution

It compares various approximation methods for Casimir-Polder potentials and analyzes their effects on matter-wave diffraction patterns.

Findings

Casimir-Polder effects influence diffraction up to 25 nm from the nanograting

Different approximation methods impact the predicted diffraction patterns

Highlighting the necessity of including Casimir-Polder interactions in analysis

Abstract

Atomic diffraction through a nanograting is a powerful tool to probe the Casimir-Polder potential. Achieving precise measurements require simulations to bridge theory and experiment. In this context, we present various approximations and methods of Casimir-Polder potentials, and we analyze their impact on matter-wave diffraction patterns. Our analysis includes the pairwise summation approach, the proximity force approximation, and multiple scattering expansion method. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the influence of Casimir-Polder interactions extends up to 25 nm before and after the nanograting slit, highlighting the importance of accounting for this effect in any accurate analysis.