Impact of Chiral-Transitions in Quantum Friction
Abstract
We theoretically investigate the role of chiral-transitions in the quantum friction force that acts on a two-level atom that moves with relative velocity v parallel to a planar metallic surface. We find that the friction force has a component that is sensitive to the handedness of the atomic transition dipole moment. In the particular, we show that the friction force can be enhanced by an atomic transition with a dipole moment with a certain handedness, and almost suppressed by the dipole moment with the opposite handedness. Curiously, the handedness of the transition dipole moment that boosts the ground-state friction force is the opposite of what is classically expected from the spin-momentum locking. We explain this discrepancy in terms of the interaction between positive and negative frequency oscillators.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2306.00151,
title = {Impact of Chiral-Transitions in Quantum Friction},
author = {Muzzamal I. Shaukat and Mario G. Silveirinha},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.00151},
year = {2025}
}