We study the interaction between a neutral atom or molecule and a conductor-patched dielectric surface. We model this system by a perfectly reflecting disk lying atop a nondispersive dielectric half-space, both interacting with the neutral atom or molecule. We assume the interaction to be nonretarded and at zero temperature. We find an exact solution to this problem. In addition, we generate a number of other useful results. For the case of no substrate, we obtain the exact formula for the van der Waals interaction energy of an atom near a perfectly conducting disk. We show that the force acting on an atom that is polarized in the direction normal to the surface of the disk displays intricate behavior. This part of our results is directly relevant to recent matter-wave experiments in which cold molecules are scattered by a radially symmetric object in order to study interference patterns and the so-called Poisson spot. Furthermore, we give an exact expression for the nonretarded limit of the dispersion force potential between an atom and a perfectly conducting bowl.

• Received 14 August 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.86.052522