Dispersion Interaction between Two Hydrogen Atoms in a Static Electric Field

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Atomic physics
• Electromagnetism

Background:

• The dispersion interaction, also known as the Casimir-Polder force, describes the van der Waals interaction between neutral atoms and molecules mediated by quantum electromagnetic field fluctuations.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial in various fields, including atomic physics, condensed matter physics, and quantum chemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of an external static electric field on the dispersion interaction between two ground-state hydrogen atoms.
• To explore the possibility of controlling and tailoring interatomic dispersion forces through external field manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of the interaction between two hydrogen atoms and the quantum electromagnetic field in the presence of an external static electric field.
• Consideration of both nonretarded and retarded Casimir-Polder regimes.
• Numerical estimation of the field-modified interaction strength.

Main Results:

• The external electric field significantly alters the spatial dependence of the dispersion interaction.
• Specific geometric configurations and field orientations allow for the transformation of the dispersion force from attractive to repulsive, or even to zero.
• The modified interaction strength can be comparable to or exceed the unperturbed interaction at experimentally achievable field strengths.

Conclusions:

• External electric fields provide a powerful tool for controlling and tailoring interatomic dispersion interactions.
• This control opens possibilities for manipulating atomic interactions in various physical systems.
• The findings are relevant for experiments involving cold atoms and precision measurements.