The impact of magnetic properties on atom-wall interaction

Abstract

The Lifshitz-type formulas for the free energy and Casimir-Polder force acting between an atom possessing a permanent magnetic moment and a wall made of different materials are derived. Simple model allowing analytic results is considered where the atomic magnetic susceptibility is frequency-independent and wall is made of ideal metal. Numerical computations of the Casimir-Polder force are performed for H atom interacting with walls made of ideal metal, nonmagnetic (Au) and ferromagnetic (Fe) metals and of ferromagnetic dielectric. It is shown that for the first three wall materials the inclusion of the magnetic moment of an atom decreases and for the fourth material increases the magnitude of the Casimir-Polder force.