Abstract

The long range interactions of atoms are of increasing interest due
to their relevance in various application areas of cold atom physics.
One of the most high profile areas concerns the development of
the new generation of atomic frequency standards.  At the present
time the single most important source of systematic uncertainty in
these clocks is the blackbody radiation shift.  The interaction of
the ambient blackbody electromagnetic field leads to different energy
shifts in the upper and lower levels of the optical frequency
standard.  In this talk we will describe the atomic physics behind
the prediction of atomic polarizabilities and long-range atom-atom
interactions.  Examples of calculations for particular atoms and
ions will be be discussed.  The interplay between theory and
experiment that is necessary for the prediction of high accuracy
polarizabilities will also be discussed.