Measurement of Casimir-Polder interaction for slow atoms through a material grating

Abstract

We present a method utilizing atomic diffraction patterns and statistical analysis tools to infer the Casimir-Polder interaction between Argon atoms and a silicon nitride nanograting. The quantum model that supports the data is investigated in detail, as are the roles of nanograting geometry, finite size effects, slit width opening angles, and Lennard-Jones potentials. Our findings indicate that the atom-surface potential strength parameter is C3 = 6.87 $\pm$ 1.18 meV.nm3. This value is primarily constrained by the knowledge of the nanograting geometry. The high sensitivity of our method paves the way for precise determination of the Casimir-Polder potential and exploration of new short-distance forces.