title: Disorder in quantum vacuum: Casimir-induced localization of matter waves.
abstract: Disordered geometrical boundaries such as rough surfaces induce important modifications to the mode spectrum of the electromagnetic quantum vacuum. In analogy to Anderson localization of waves induced by a random potential, here we show that the Casimir-Polder interaction between a cold atomic sample and a rough surface also produces localization phenomena. These effects, that represent a macroscopic manifestation of disorder in quantum vacuum, should be observable with Bose-Einstein condensates expanding in proximity of rough surfaces.
authors.affiliation: IFIBA-Departamento de Física, FCEyN, UBA, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: D A R
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dalvit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Maia Neto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reynaud