Complex orientation dependence of Casimir-Polder interaction induced by curvature and optical properties of the surface and the surrounding medium

Abstract

We employ a multiple scattering expansion to systematically derive curvature corrections to the Casimir-Polder (CP) interaction between small an-isotropic particles and general magneto-dielectric surfaces. Our results, validated against exact solutions, reveal a complex, distance-dependent interplay between material properties and surface curvature in determining stable particle orientations. We demonstrate that even small surface curvature can induce or eliminate switches in the preferred orientation, a quantum effect that is diminished by thermal fluctuations. This work provides a crucial understanding of how to engineer nano-particle orientation through tune-able parameters, offering significant implications for micro- and nano-mechanical device design.