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arXiv · 2505.10056

Probing the geometry dependence of the Casimir-Polder interaction by matter-wave diffraction at a nano-grating

Matthieu Bruneau·Julien Lecoffre·Gabin Routier·Naceur Gaaloul·Gabriel Dutier·Quentin Bouton·Thorsten Emig
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Abstract

Atomic diffraction through a nanograting is a powerful tool to probe the Casimir-Polder potential. Achieving precise measurements require simulations to bridge theory and experiment. In this context, we present various approximations and methods of Casimir-Polder potentials, and we analyze their impact on matter-wave diffraction patterns. Our analysis includes the pairwise summation approach, the proximity force approximation, and multiple scattering expansion method. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the influence of Casimir-Polder interactions extends up to 25 nm before and after the nanograting slit, highlighting the importance of accounting for this effect in any accurate analysis.

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Matthieu Bruneau, Julien Lecoffre, Gabin Routier, Naceur Gaaloul, Gabriel Dutier, Quentin Bouton, Thorsten Emig. 2025-05-15. Probing the geometry dependence of the Casimir-Polder interaction by matter-wave diffraction at a nano-grating. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.10056

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