10.6084/m9.figshare.1012762.v1 Gao-Ren Wang Gao-Ren Wang Ting Xie Ting Xie Yin Huang Yin Huang Shu-Lin Cong Shu-Lin Cong Reflectivity of a sodium atom by the CP potential <em>V<sub>p</sub></em>(<em>r</em>) IOP Publishing 2013 separation threshold reflectivity formula cp quantum defect theory quantum reflection model Atomic Physics Molecular Physics 2013-09-05 00:00:00 Figure https://iop.figshare.com/articles/figure/_Reflectivity_of_a_sodium_atom_by_the_CP_potential_em_V_sub_p_sub_em_em_r_em_/1012762 <p><strong>Figure 1.</strong> Reflectivity of a sodium atom by the CP potential <em>V<sub>p</sub></em>(<em>r</em>). Solid (black) line: reflectivity calculated numerically at each incident velocity. Dotted–dashed (red) line: reflectivity calculated by the current three-parameter model. Short dashed (green) line: reflectivity calculated according to the threshold formula (<a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/18/185302/article#jpb472270eqn01" target="_blank">1</a>). Long dashed (blue) line: reflectivity calculated according to the high-order threshold formula (<a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/18/185302/article#jpb472270eqn27" target="_blank">22</a>).</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We investigate the quantum reflection governed by the Casimir–Polder potential which scales as −1/<em>r</em><sup>3</sup> at short separation and as −1/<em>r</em><sup>4</sup> at long separation. Using the available analytical solutions for the −1/<em>r</em><sup>4</sup> potential and quantum defect theory, we develop a three-parameter model for quantum reflection. The three parameters characterizing the potential are essentially constant near the threshold. The application scope of the model is examined. For a potential dominated by the −1/<em>r</em><sup>4</sup> behaviour, which is the case in many realistic atom–surface systems, our model gives accurate results over the energy range in which the quantum reflection is significant. Moreover, this parameterized model allows one to fit the experimental data efficiently.</p>