The description of dispersion forces within the framework of macroscopicquantum electrodynamics in linear, dispersing, and absorbing media combines thebenefits of approaches based on normal-mode techniques of standard quantumelectrodynamics and methods based on linear response theory in a natural way.It renders generally valid expressions for both the forces between bodies andthe forces on atoms in the presence of bodies, while showing very clearly theintimate relation between the different types of dispersion forces. Byconsidering examples, the influence of various factors like form, size,electric and magnetic properties, or intervening media on the forces isaddressed. Since the approach based on macroscopic quantum electrodynamics doesnot only apply to equilibrium systems, it can be used to investigate dynamicaleffects such as the temporal evolution of forces on arbitrarily excited atoms.
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