Abstract
The Casimir-Polder retarded potential between two neutral (polarizable) atoms at a separation , which replaces the nonrelativistic van der Waals potential for sufficiently large, has been derived both by standard techniques and by assuming the atoms to be within a large volume with conducting walls and considering vacuum-fluctuation effects. The latter technique is here used to provide simple derivations of the potential between a charged point particle and a polarizable system—an addition to the usual polarization potential—and the two-photon contribution to the potential between two charged point particles. It also suggests a new, potential—an addition to the usual image potential—between a charged point particle and a conducting wall.
- Received 4 August 1977
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.18.845
©1978 American Physical Society