Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating

We present a method utilizing atomic diffraction patterns and statistical analysis tools to infer the Casimir-Polder interaction between argon atoms and a silicon nitride nanograting. The quantum model that supports the data is investigated in detail, as are the roles of nanograting geometry, finite...

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Main Authors: Julien Lecoffre, Ayoub Hadi, Matthieu Bruneau, Charles Garcion, Nathalie Fabre, Éric Charron, Naceur Gaaloul, Gabriel Dutier, Quentin Bouton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-03-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013232
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author Julien Lecoffre
Ayoub Hadi
Matthieu Bruneau
Charles Garcion
Nathalie Fabre
Éric Charron
Naceur Gaaloul
Gabriel Dutier
Quentin Bouton
author_facet Julien Lecoffre
Ayoub Hadi
Matthieu Bruneau
Charles Garcion
Nathalie Fabre
Éric Charron
Naceur Gaaloul
Gabriel Dutier
Quentin Bouton
author_sort Julien Lecoffre
collection DOAJ
description We present a method utilizing atomic diffraction patterns and statistical analysis tools to infer the Casimir-Polder interaction between argon atoms and a silicon nitride nanograting. The quantum model that supports the data is investigated in detail, as are the roles of nanograting geometry, finite-size effects, slit width opening angles, Lennard-Jones potentials, and patch potentials. Our findings indicate that the atom-surface potential strength parameter is C_{3}=6.9±1.2meVnm^{3}. This value is primarily constrained by the knowledge of the nanograting geometry. The high sensitivity of our method paves the way for precise determination of the Casimir-Polder potential and exploration of new short-distance forces.
format Article
id doaj-art-0e9b8fdf67b24cb9a6b8832dc1120650
institution DOAJ
issn 2643-1564
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher American Physical Society
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series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj-art-0e9b8fdf67b24cb9a6b8832dc11206502025-08-20T03:01:17ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-03-017101323210.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013232Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material gratingJulien LecoffreAyoub HadiMatthieu BruneauCharles GarcionNathalie FabreÉric CharronNaceur GaaloulGabriel DutierQuentin BoutonWe present a method utilizing atomic diffraction patterns and statistical analysis tools to infer the Casimir-Polder interaction between argon atoms and a silicon nitride nanograting. The quantum model that supports the data is investigated in detail, as are the roles of nanograting geometry, finite-size effects, slit width opening angles, Lennard-Jones potentials, and patch potentials. Our findings indicate that the atom-surface potential strength parameter is C_{3}=6.9±1.2meVnm^{3}. This value is primarily constrained by the knowledge of the nanograting geometry. The high sensitivity of our method paves the way for precise determination of the Casimir-Polder potential and exploration of new short-distance forces.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013232
spellingShingle Julien Lecoffre
Ayoub Hadi
Matthieu Bruneau
Charles Garcion
Nathalie Fabre
Éric Charron
Naceur Gaaloul
Gabriel Dutier
Quentin Bouton
Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
Physical Review Research
title Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
title_full Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
title_fullStr Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
title_full_unstemmed Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
title_short Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
title_sort measurement of casimir polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013232
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