Measurement of the Casimir-Polder force through center-of-mass oscillations of a Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper reports a precise measurement of the Casimir-Polder force using Bose-Einstein condensate oscillations, extending the measurable distance and setting limits on non-Newtonian gravity at micron scales.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to measure the Casimir-Polder force at larger distances with high precision using BEC oscillations.

Findings

Measured Casimir-Polder force at ~5 microns distance.

Achieved sensitivity approaching thermal radiation effects.

Set new limits on non-Newtonian gravity in the micron range.

Abstract

We have performed a measurement of the Casimir-Polder force using a magnetically trapped 87-Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. By detecting perturbations of the frequency of center-of-mass oscillations of the condensate perpendicular to the surface, we are able to detect this force at a distance ~5 microns, significantly farther than has been previously achieved, and at a precision approaching that needed to detect the modification due to thermal radiation. Additionally, this technique provides a limit for the presence of non-Newtonian gravity forces in the ~1 micron range.