Related papers: The Physics of Atom-Surface Interactions
We investigate the time-dependent Casimir-Polder potential of a polarizable two-level atom placed near a surface of arbitrary material, after a sudden change in the parameters of the system. Different initial conditions are taken into…
Working at the Lifshitz level, we investigate the van der Waals interactions across a series of layers with a periodic motif. We derive the complete form of the van der Waals interaction as an explicit function of the number of periodic…
To facilitate the transition of quantum effects from the controlled laboratory environment to practical real-world applications, there is a pressing need for scalable platforms. One promising strategy involves integrating thermal vapors…
The decay of an excited atom in the presence of a medium that both scatters and absorbs radiation is studied with the help of a quantum-electrodynamical model. The medium is represented by a half space filled with a randomly distributed set…
The van der Waals interaction between two polarizable atoms is considered. In three dimensions the standard form with an attractive $1/|R|^6$ potential is obtained from second-order quantum perturbation theory. When the electron motion is…
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…
No surface is perfectly planar at all scales. The notion of flatness of a surface therefore depends on the size of the probe used to observe it. As a consequence rough interfaces are abundant in nature. Here the old, but still active field…
We investigate the force between plasmonic nanoparticle and highly excited two-level system (molecule). Usually van der Waals force between nanoscale electrically neutral systems is monotonic and attractive at moderate and larger distances…
The nuclear interactions of atomic and low energy antiprotons are studied. Measurements of level shifts and widths in the lightest elements are analyzed and compared with new results obtained in heavy nuclei. Simple geometric properties of…
The theory is presented for resonance interaction between two atoms in an excited configuration: one atom, the "receptor" of information (i.e. energy), adsorbed on a phospholipid surface and the other atom, the "emitter" of information…
In low energy atom-surface scattering, it is possible for the atom to be reflected in a region of attractive potential with no classical turning point. This phenomenon has come to be known as quantum reflection and it can reduce the…
Photon-mediated interactions between atoms are of fundamental importance in quantum optics, quantum simulations and quantum information processing. The exchange of real and virtual photons between atoms gives rise to non-trivial…
A field theory to describe electrostatic interactions in soap films, described by electric multi-layers with a generalized thermodynamic surface-charging mechanism, is studied. In the limit where the electrostatic interactions are weak this…
Our understanding of both structure and dynamics of adsorbed liquids heavily relies on the capillary wave Hamiltonian, but a thorough test of this model is still lacking. Here we study the capillary wave fluctuations of a liquid film with…
Previous and present "academic" research aiming at atomic scale understanding is mainly concerned with the study of individual molecular processes possibly underlying materials science applications. Appealing properties of an individual…
Friction is the basic, ubiquitous mechanical interaction between two surfaces that results in resistance to motion and energy dissipation. In spite of its technological and economic significance, our ability to control friction remains…
Diffusion-mediated surface phenomena are crucial for human life and industry, with examples ranging from oxygen capture by lung alveolar surface to heterogeneous catalysis, gene regulation, membrane permeation and filtration processes.…
We present an extensive but concise review of our present understanding, largely based on theory and simulation work from our group, on the equilibrium behavior of solid surfaces and nanosystems close to the bulk melting point. In the first…
Particle momentum distributions originating from a quark-gluon plasma as produced in high-energy nuclear collisions can be influenced by thermal fluctuations in fluid dynamic fields. We study this effect by generalizing the commonly used…
Atomistic simulations are used to test the equations of continuum contact mechanics in nanometer scale contacts. Nominally spherical tips, made by bending crystals or cutting crystalline or amorphous solids, are pressed into a flat, elastic…