Dispersion forces in macroscopic quantum electrodynamics

• Published in: Progress in quantum electronics Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 51 - 130
• Main Authors: Buhmann, Stefan Yoshi, Welsch, Dirk-Gunnar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions; Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic polarizability; Atom–surface interaction; Casimir effect; Dispersion force; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Interactions of atoms, molecules and their ions with surfaces; photon and electron emission; neutralization of ions; Intermolecular potential; Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics; Magneto-electric medium; Multilayer structure; Optics; Physics; Quantum description of interaction of light and matter; related experiments; Quantum electrodynamics; Quantum optical phenomena in absorbing, dispersive, and conducting media; Quantum optics; Rabi oscillations; Scattering of atoms, molecules and ions; Specific theories and interaction models; particle systematics; Spontaneous decay; Strong atom–field coupling; The physics of elementary particles and fields; van der Waals force; Weak atom–field coupling; Strong atom–field coupling; 42.50.Ct; Atom–surface interaction; Magneto-electric medium; van der Waals force; Dispersion force; Rabi oscillations; Spontaneous decay; Intermolecular potential; Multilayer structure; Atomic polarizability; 12.20.−m; Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics; 42.50.Nn; Casimir effect; 34.50.Dy; Weak atom–field coupling; Dispersion force; Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics; Casimir effect; van der Waals force; Atom-surface interaction; Intermolecular potential; Atomic polarizability; Magneto-electric medium; Multilayer structure; Spontaneous decay; Weak atom-field coupling; Strong atom-field coupling; Rabi oscillations; Absorbent material; Atom-surface interaction; Ground states; 12.20.-m; 42.50.Ct; 34.50.Dy; 42.50.Nn; Quantum optics; Time evolution; Strong coupling; Radiation matter interactions; Excited states; Intermolecular interaction; Multilayers; Rabi frequency; Weak coupling; Quantum electrodynamics; Van der Waals interaction; Dispersion interaction; Interaction potentials
• ISSN: 0079-6727; 1873-1627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pquantelec.2007.03.001

The description of dispersion forces within the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics in linear, dispersing and absorbing media combines the benefits of approaches based on normal-mode techniques of standard quantum electrodynamics and methods based on linear-response theory in a natural way. It renders generally valid expressions for both the forces between bodies and the forces on atoms in the presence of bodies while showing very clearly the intimate relation between the different types of dispersion forces. By considering examples, the influence of various factors like form, size, electric and magnetic properties, or intervening media on the forces is addressed. Since the approach based on macroscopic quantum electrodynamics does not only apply to equilibrium systems, it can be used to investigate dynamical effects such as the temporal evolution of forces on arbitrarily excited atoms.