Abstract
An alternative, dynamical description of the Casimir–Polder force is developed based on the Lorentz force. The total Lorentz force acting on the atomic charge and current densities is derived in the equivalent minimal and multipolar coupling schemes. After solving the coupled atom–field dynamics in the Heisenberg picture, the time-dependent Casimir–Polder force is found to be given by a superposition of force components weighted by the populations of the atomic energy eigenstates. The dynamics of the populations and hence also the force is governed by spontaneous decay. The atomic transitions entering the force components are seen to acquire finite shifts and widths in the vicinity of a body. Their impact on the force is demonstrated for an atom in front of a dielectric half space.
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Buhmann, S.Y. (2012). Casimir–Polder Forces on Excited Atoms: Dynamical Approach. In: Dispersion Forces II. Springer Tracts in Modern Physics, vol 248. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32466-6_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32466-6_5
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