Abstract
Quantum fluctuations can induce a friction on a neutral but polarizable particle and cause it to radiate energy even if the particle is moving in free space filled with blackbody radiation, and is not in contact with or close to any surface or other object. We explore the energetics of such a particle moving uniformly in vacuum, continuing our previous investigations of quantum friction. The intrinsic polarizability of the particle is considered to be purely real before it is dressed by radiation. The particle is then guaranteed to be in the nonequilibrium steady state (NESS), where it absorbs and emits energy at the same rate. We first calculate the quantum frictional power and force on the particle in the rest frame of the blackbody radiation from first principles, namely the Maxwell-Heaviside equations and the Lorentz force law. Then we provide a simpler method of obtaining the same quantities in the rest frame of the particle by using the principle of virtual work. The equivalence of the two approaches is illustrated. The formulas we derive for quantum vacuum frictional power and force are fully relativistic and applicable to finite temperature. In NESS, the quantum vacuum frictional force on the particle is shown to be a true drag, independent of the model for polarizability and the polarization state of the particle. Finally, we give an estimate of the quantum vacuum friction on a gold atom and comment on the feasibility of detecting such quantum vacuum frictional effects.
Highlights
Friction has always been an intriguing subject to study
The nonequilibrium steady state (NESS) condition is stated as P0 1⁄4 0 in frame of the particle (frame P), and we have shown that it holds to all orders in the renormalized intrinsic polarizability
We provide fully relativistic and finite temperature formulations for calculating the quantum frictional power and force on a neutral particle with real intrinsic polarizability αðωÞ
Summary
Friction has always been an intriguing subject to study. Recently, we have investigated the friction felt by a charged particle passing above a metallic surface [1] as well as by a moving neutral particle carrying either an electric or a magnetic dipole moment [2]. [2], we have already calculated the quantum vacuum friction on a neutral but polarizable particle with intrinsic dissipation moving through blackbody radiation. [2] and calculate the quantum frictional power and force on a neutral but polarizable particle moving uniformly in vacuum. The neutral particle considered in this paper is an open quantum system interacting with the electromagnetic field, which can be thought of as an infinite set of harmonic oscillators. We set kB 1⁄4 c 1⁄4 ħ 1⁄4 1 in the derivation of formulas but the Systeme International (SI) units are used in the numerical evaluations
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