2007/07/02 by Ulrich Hohenester, Asier Eiguren, Stefan Scheel +1 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Atom (system on chip) #Atomic physics #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Condensed matter physics #Materials science #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Quasiparticle #Rubidium #Scattering #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin-flip #Superconductivity #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.76.033618
10 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2007/07/02 · openalex publication_date 2007/09/21 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We investigate theoretically the magnetic spin-flip transitions of neutral atoms trapped near a superconducting slab. Our calculations are based on a quantum-theoretical treatment of electromagnetic radiation near dielectric and metallic bodies. Specific results are given for rubidium atoms near a niobium superconductor. At the low frequencies typical of atomic transitions, we find that BCS theory greatly overestimates coherence effects, which are much less pronounced when quasiparticle lifetime effects are included through Eliashberg theory. At 4.2\phantom\rule0.3em0exK, the typical atomic spin lifetime is found to be larger than 1000\phantom\rule0.3em0exs, even for atom-superconductor distances of one 1\phantom\rule0.3em0ex\mathrm\ensuremathμm. This constitutes a large enhancement in comparison with normal metals.