Exploring surface interactions with atom chips
Abstract
We review the current status of the field of atom-surface interactions, with an emphasis on the regimes specific to atom chips. Recent developments in theory and experiment are highlighted. In particular, atom-surface interactions define physical limits for miniaturization and coherent operation. This implies constraints for applications in quantum information processing or matter wave interferometry. We focus on atom-surface interaction potentials induced by vacuum fluctuations (Van der Waals and Casimir-Polder forces), and on transitions between atomic quantum states that are induced by thermally excited magnetic near fields. Open questions and current challenges are sketched.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0512043,
title = {Exploring surface interactions with atom chips},
author = {Carsten Henkel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0512043},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
to be submitted to Rev Mod Phys; comments and additions are welcome!