Near-field Electrodynamics of Atomically Doped Carbon Nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum theory for the near-field electrodynamics of carbon nanotubes, revealing strong atom-field interactions, vacuum-field Rabi oscillations, and the limitations of traditional van der Waals models near nanotube surfaces.

Contribution

It introduces a universal quantum mechanical approach to describe atom-nanotube interactions, highlighting the failure of weak-coupling models in close proximity to nanotubes.

Findings

Observation of vacuum-field Rabi oscillations indicating strong coupling.

Identification of quasi-1D cavity polaritons as atomic states.

Demonstration that conventional van der Waals models are inadequate near nanotubes.

Abstract

We develop a quantum theory of near-field electrodynamical properties of carbon nanotubes and investigate spontaneous decay dynamics of excited states and van der Waals attraction of the ground state of an atomic system close to a single-wall nanotube surface. Atomic spontaneous decay exhibits vacuum-field Rabi oscillations -- a principal signature of strong atom-vacuum-field coupling. The strongly coupled atomic state is nothing but a 'quasi-1D cavity polariton'. Its stability is mainly determined by the atom-nanotube van der Waals interaction. Our calculations of the ground-state atom van der Waals energy performed within a universal quantum mechanical approach valid for both weak and strong atom-field coupling demonstrate the inapplicability of conventional weak-coupling-based van der Waals interaction models in a close vicinity of the nanotube surface.