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Disorder in quantum vacuum: Casimir-induced localization of matter waves
G A Moreno1, R Messina, D A R Dalvit
1IFIBA-Departamento de Física, FCEyN, UBA, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract:
Disordered geometrical boundaries such as rough surfaces induce important modifications to the mode spectrum of the electromagnetic quantum vacuum. In analogy to Anderson localization of waves induced by a random potential, here we show that the Casimir-Polder interaction between a cold atomic sample and a rough surface also produces localization phenomena. These effects, that represent a macroscopic manifestation of disorder in quantum vacuum, should be observable with Bose-Einstein condensates expanding in proximity of rough surfaces.
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