Local-field corrected van der Waals potentials in magnetodielectric multilayer systems

Abstract

Within the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics in linear, causal media, we study the van der Waals potentials of ground-state atoms in planar magnetodielectric host media. Our investigation extends earlier ones in two aspects: It allows for the atom to be embedded in a medium, thus covers many more realistic systems; and it takes account of the local-field correction. Two- and three-layer configurations are treated in detail both analytically and numerically. It is shown that an interplay of electric and magnetic properties in neighbouring media may give rise to potential wells or walls. Local-field corrections as high as 80% are found. By calculating the full potential including the translationally invariant and variant parts, we propose a way to estimate the (finite) value of the dispersion potential at the surface between two media. Connection with earlier work intended for biological applications is established.

12 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Dispersion forces in macroscopic quantum electrodynamics
• Ground-state van der Waals forces in planar multilayer magnetodielectrics
• Local-field correction to one- and two-atom van der Waals interactions
• Van der Waals interaction and spontaneous decay of an excited atom in a superlens-type geometry
• Van der Waals Interactions in a Magneto-Dielectric Medium
• Medium effects on the van der Waals force
• Enhanced van der Waals interaction at interfaces

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