Local-field correction to one- and two-atom van der Waals interactions

Agnes Sambale, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, Dirk-Gunnar Welsch, and Marin-Slodoban Tomaš
Phys. Rev. A 75, 042109 – Published 20 April 2007; Erratum Phys. Rev. A 76, 029905 (2007)

Abstract

Based on macroscopic quantum electrodynamics in linearly and causally responding media, we study the local-field corrected van der Waals potentials and forces for unpolarized ground-state atoms placed within a magnetoelectric medium of arbitrary size and shape. We start from general expressions for the van der Waals potentials in terms of the (classical) Green tensor of the electromagnetic field and the atomic polarizability and incorporate the local-field correction by means of the real-cavity model. In this context, special emphasis is given to the decomposition of the Green tensor into a medium part multiplied by a global local-field correction factor and, in the single-atom case, a part that only depends on the cavity characteristics. The result is used to derive general formulas for the local-field corrected van der Waals potentials and forces. As an application, we calculate the van der Waals potential between two ground-state atoms placed within magnetoelectric bulk material.

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  • Received 21 December 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.75.042109

©2007 American Physical Society

Erratum

Erratum: Local-field correction to one- and two-atom van der Waals interactions [Phys. Rev. A 75, 042109 (2007)]

Agnes Sambale, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, Dirk-Gunnar Welsch, and Marin-Slodoban Tomaš
Phys. Rev. A 76, 029905 (2007)

Authors & Affiliations

Agnes Sambale, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, and Dirk-Gunnar Welsch

  • Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany

Marin-Slodoban Tomaš

  • Rudjer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia

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Issue

Vol. 75, Iss. 4 — April 2007

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