Mainz 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 82: Matter Wave Interferometry, Metrology, and Fundamental Physics IV
Q 82.3: Vortrag
Freitag, 6. März 2026, 15:00–15:15, P 11
Constraining the Casimir-Polder force via the scanning angle method — •Matthieu Bruneau1,2, Gabin Routier1, Etienne De Girolamo1, Nathalie Fabre1, Eric Charron3, Thorsten Emig4, Gabriel Dutier1, Quentin Bouton1, and Naceur Gaaloul2 — 1LPL, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Vil- letaneuse, France — 2IQO, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany — 3ISMO, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France — 4LPTMS, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
The Casimir-Polder (C-P) force is a universal atom-surface interaction arising from quantum fluctuations. Dominant at nanometric distances, it is closely linked to possible non-Newtonian gravitational effects. In this work, we model an experiment in which cold atoms are diffracted by a nanostructure, with C-P interactions encoded in the resulting diffraction pattern.
Current experimental sensitivity is limited mainly by the geometry of available nanogratings. To improve precision, we introduce a scanning-angle detection method and examine the influence of several C-P models, from simple van der Waals summations to full QED calculations based on multiple-scattering expansions. This approach enhances sensitivity, paving the way to more accurate characterization of atom-surface interactions and providing tighter constraints on hypothetical deviations from Newtonian gravity.
This work is supported by BMWK DLR funds (50WM2450A QUANTUS-VI).
Keywords: Casimir-Polder; Nano-gratings; Atomic diffraction; Scanning angle method; non-Newtonian gravitational effects