Casimir-Polder interaction between an atom and a cylinder with application to nanosystems
arXiv:quant-ph/0601032 · doi:10.1088/0305-4470/39/21/S44
Abstract
Recently the Lifshitz theory of dispersion forces was extended for the case of an atom (molecule) interacting with a plane surface of a uniaxial crystal or with a long solid cylinder or cylindrical shell made of isotropic material or uniaxial crystal. The obtained results are applicable to nanosystems. In particular, we investigate the Casimir-Polder interaction between hydrogen atoms (molecules) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes. It is demonstrated that the hydrogen atoms located inside multiwall carbon nanotubes have a lower free energy compared to those located outside. We also perform comparison studies of the interaction of hydrogen atoms between themselves and with multi-wall carbon nanotube. The obtained results are important for the problem of hydrogen storage.
5 pages, 2 figures, iopart.cls is used, to appear in J. Phys. A (special issue: Proceedings of QFEXT05, Barcelona, Sept. 5-9, 2005)