Geometrical dependence in Casimir-Polder repulsion

Abstract

Repulsion, induced from quantum vacuum fluctuations, for an anisotropically polarizable atom on the symmetry axis of an anisotropically polarizable annular disc is studied. There exists two torsion free points on each side of the annular disc, where the interaction energy is orientation independent. The position of second of the two torsion free points, on either side of the disc, is shown to determine the orientation dependence of the atom at distances far from the plate, revealing a geometrical dependence. In the ring limit of the annular disc, new repulsion emerges.