Abstract
Using the general expressions for level shifts obtained from the master equation for a small system interacting with a large one considered as a reservoir, we calculate the dispersive potentials between an atom and a wall in the dipole approximation. We analyse in detail the particular case of a two-level atom in the presence of a perfectly conducting wall. We study the van der Waals as well as the resonant interactions. All distance regimes as well as the high and low temperature regimes are considered. We show that the Casimir–Polder interaction cannot be considered as a direct result of the vacuum fluctuations only. Concerning the interaction between the atom and the wall at high temperatures, we show that a saturation of the potential for all distances occurs. This saturated potential coincides precisely with that obtained in the London–van der Waals limit.
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