Decay Processes in the Presence of Thin Superconducting Films

In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 070401 (2006)] the transition rate of magnetic spin-flip of a neutral two-level atom trapped in the vicinity of a thick superconducting body was studied. In the present paper we will extend these considerations to a situation with an atom at various distances from a dielectric film. Rates for the corresponding electric dipole-flip transition will also be considered. The rates for these atomic flip transitions can be reduced or enhanced, and in some situations they can even be completely suppressed. For a superconducting film or a thin film of a perfect conducting material various analytical expressions are derived that reveals the dependence of the physical parameters at hand.