Summary
This study investigates the quantum friction experienced by a polarizable atom moving with constant velocity parallel to a planar interface made of nonreciprocal or chiral media. The research uses macroscopic quantum electrodynamics to obtain the velocity-dependent Casimir-Polder frequency shift and decay rate.
Highlights
- The study explores the quantum friction experienced by an atom moving near nonreciprocal and chiral media.
- Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics is used to derive the velocity-dependent Casimir-Polder frequency shift and decay rate.
- The research considers five different materials: perfectly conducting mirror, perfectly reflecting nonreciprocal mirror, strong three-dimensional topological insulator, perfectly reflecting chiral mirror, and isotropic chiral medium.
- The study finds different asymptotic power laws for all these materials in the nonretarded limit.
- The results show that the frequency shift can be increased or decreased depending on the sign of the velocity and the handedness of the media.
- The study provides a general expression for the atomic decay rate and frequency shift, which can be split into position-dependent and velocity-dependent terms.
- The research highlights the importance of considering the internal atomic dynamics and the properties of the surrounding medium.
Key Insights
- The study reveals that nonreciprocal media can couple to the falsely chiral response of a molecule, leading to a non-zero frequency shift.
- The research demonstrates that a perfectly reflecting nonreciprocal mirror can exhibit a non-zero frequency shift due to the nonreciprocal optical rotatory strength.
- The study finds that a strong three-dimensional topological insulator can exhibit a non-zero frequency shift due to the topological parameter ∆.
- The research highlights the importance of considering the chirality of the medium and the atom's velocity when studying quantum friction.
- The study shows that the frequency shift can be modulated by adjusting the permittivity ε and the topological parameter ∆.
- The research provides a new perspective on the connection between quantum friction and the properties of the surrounding medium.
- The study demonstrates that the internal atomic dynamics and the properties of the surrounding medium play a crucial role in determining the quantum friction experienced by an atom.
Mindmap
Citation
Franca, O. J., Spallek, F., Giesen, S., Berger, R., Singer, K., Aull, S., & Buhmann, S. Y. (2024). Spectroscopic footprints of quantum friction in nonreciprocal and chiral media (Version 1). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2412.18044