Nontrivial retardation effects in dispersion forces: From anomalous distance dependence to novel traps
Johannes Fiedler, Kristian Berland, Fabian Spallek, Iver Brevik, Clas Persson, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, M. Boström
Abstract
In the study of dispersion forces, nonretarded, retarded, and thermal asymptotes with their distinct scaling laws are regarded as cornerstone results governing interactions at different separations. Here, we show that when particles interact in a medium, the influence of retardation is qualitatively different, making it necessary to consider the nonmonotonous potential in full. We discuss different regimes for several cases and find an anomalous behavior of the retarded asymptote. It can change sign and lead to a trapping potential.
Topics & Concepts
AsymptoteSign (mathematics)ScalingDispersion (optics)TrappingThermalPhysicsStatistical physicsOpticsMathematicsThermodynamicsMathematical analysisBiologyGeometryEcologyQuantum Electrodynamics and Casimir EffectQuantum, superfluid, helium dynamicsCold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates