An error occurred in the numerical examples presented in the original article, as the contribution from the ns → np transition was neglected in the calculation of the dipole Casimir-Polder (CP) shift and transition rates. This transition is relevant for rubidium as a result of differing quantum defects for the ns and np states. As seen in the corrected Fig. 1, the 43s → 43p transition contributes about 50% to the total level shift. As a result, the CP shifts of rubidium in Rydberg states are even larger than stated in the original article, roughly by a factor of 2, as can be seen from the corrected Fig. 2(a). The decay rates are affected in a similar way [cf. the corrected Fig. 2(b)]. Note that these quantitative changes do not affect any of the conclusions made in the original article regarding the physics of Rydberg atoms near surfaces.Also, in the text following Eq. (9), the Drude relation for the permittivity of a metal should read ε(ω) = 1 − ω 2 p /ω(ω + iγ ). We thank R. Fermani for bringing these issues to our attention. 38 39 40 41 42 44 45 46 47 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 43 Principal quantum number n Dipole Quadrupole FIG. 1. (Color online) Relative contributions from different transitions to the CP dipole and quadrupole level shift of the state 43s of 87 Rb. 0 5 10 15 20 −10 9

The Casimir-Polder (CP) potential and transition rates of a Rydberg atom above a plane metal surface at finite temperature are discussed. As an example, the CP potential and transition rates of a rubidium atom above a copper surface at room temperature is computed. Close to the surface we show that the quadrupole correction to the force is significant and increases with increasing principal quantum number n. For both the CP potential and decay rates one finds that the dominant contribution comes from the longest wavelength transition and the potential is independent of temperature. We provide explicit scaling laws for potential and decay rates as functions of atom-surface distance and principal quantum number of the initial Rydberg state.Comment: Updated to journal version with corrected figures. 4 Pages, 2 figure