Mass-energy and anomalous friction in quantum optics

Abstract: The usual multipolar Hamiltonian for atom-light interaction features a non-relativistic moving atom interacting with electromagnetic fields which inherently follow Lorentzian symmetry. This combination can lead to situations where atoms appear to experience a friction force, when in fact they only change their internal mass-energy due to the emission or absorption of a photon. Unfortunately the simple Galilean description of the atom's motion is not sufficient to distinguish between a change in momentum due to acceleration and a change in momentum due to a change in internal mass-energy. In this work we show how a low-order relativistic correction can be included in the multipolar atom-light Hamiltonian. We also give examples how this affects the most basic mechanical interactions between atoms and photons.