Haslinger, P., Jaffe, M., Xu, V., Schwartz, O., Sonnleitner, M., Ritsch-Marte, M., Ritsch, H. and Müller, H. (2018) Attractive force on atoms due to blackbody radiation. Nature Physics, 14, pp. 257-260. (doi: 10.1038/s41567-017-0004-9)
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Abstract
Objects at finite temperature emit thermal radiation with an outward energy–momentum flow, which exerts an outward radiation pressure. At room temperature, a caesium atom scatters on average less than one of these blackbody radiation photons every 108 years. Thus, it is generally assumed that any scattering force exerted on atoms by such radiation is negligible. However, atoms also interact coherently with the thermal electromagnetic field. In this work, we measure an attractive force induced by blackbody radiation between a caesium atom and a heated, centimetre-sized cylinder, which is orders of magnitude stronger than the outward-directed radiation pressure. Using atom interferometry, we find that this force scales with the fourth power of the cylinder’s temperature. The force is in good agreement with that predicted from an a.c. Stark shift gradient of the atomic ground state in the thermal radiation field1. This observed force dominates over both gravity and radiation pressure, and does so for a large temperature range.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | O.S. was supported by HFSP fellowship LT000844/2016-C. M.S. was supported by the ERC Advanced Grant (247024 catchIT) and the Royal Society (RP150122). P.H. and M.S. thank the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): J3680, J3703. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Sonnleitner, Dr Matthias |
| Authors: | Haslinger, P., Jaffe, M., Xu, V., Schwartz, O., Sonnleitner, M., Ritsch-Marte, M., Ritsch, H., and Müller, H. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Nature Physics |
| Publisher: | Springer Nature |
| ISSN: | 1745-2473 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1745-2481 |
| Published Online: | 04 December 2017 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature |
| First Published: | First published in Nature Physics 14:257-260 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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