Abstract
We investigate the transition processes of a static multilevel atom in interaction with a fluctuating vacuum quantum electromagnetic field in the cosmic string spacetime in the presence of an infinite, perfectly conducting plane. Using the formalism proposed by DDC, we find that the presence of the boundary modifies both vacuum fluctuations and radiation reaction contributions to the atomic spontaneous emission rate. Our results indicate that the total decay rate and the boundary-induced contribution both depend upon the atom-string distance, the atom-plate separation, the extent of the polar angle deficit induced by the string, and the atomic polarization direction. By adjusting these parameters, the atomic decay rate can be either enhanced or weakened significantly by the boundary. Moreover, the presence of the boundary can distinguish certain polarization directions that bring about the same decay rate in the case of a free cosmic string spacetime. Theoretically, our work suggests a more flexible means to adjust and control the radiative processes of atoms.