Abstract:
A theory of van der Waals (vdW) interaction between an atom (in ground or excited state) and a birefringent dielectric surface with an arbitrary orientation of the principal optic axis (C-axis) is presented. Our theoretical approach is based on quantum-mechanical linear response theory, using generalized susceptibilities for both atom and electromagnetic field. Resonant atom-surface coupling is predicted for excited-state atoms interacting with a dispersive dielectric surface, when an atom de-excitation channel gets into resonance with a surface polariton mode. In the non-retarded regime, this resonant coupling can lead to enhanced attractive or repulsive vdW surface forces, as well as to a dissipative coupling increasing the excited-state relaxation. We show that the strongly non-scalar character of the interaction with the birefringent surface produces a C-axis-dependent symmetry-breaking of the atomic wavefunction. Changes of the C-axis orientation may also lead to a frequency shift of the surface polariton mode, allowing for tuning on or off the resonant coupling, resulting in a special type of engineering of surface forces. This is analysed here in the case of cesium 6D 3/2 level interacting with a sapphire interface, where it is shown that an adequate choice of the sapphire C-axis orientation allows one to transform vdW surface attraction into repulsion, and to interpret recent experimental observations based on selective reflection methods [H. Failache etal., Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 5467 (1999)].
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 24 January 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gorza, MP., Saltiel, S., Failache, H. et al. Quantum theory of van der Waals interactions between excited atoms and birefringent dielectric surfaces. Eur. Phys. J. D 15, 113–126 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170189
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170189