Negative energy: same in Casimir, Hawking rad, & spherical space?

[nomadreid]

The term "negative energy" is used
(a) for the energy below the vacuum energy between the two plates in the Casimir effect,
(b) the energy carried by the sister particle to the radiated particle in Hawking radiation, that is, the particle from the matter-antimatter pair which goes into the black hole, causing its loss of mass-energy
(c) the energy which would make flat space into spherical space, or for example make the hypebrbolic space of a wormhole flat enough to make it traversable.

If i understand correctly, these are all the same. But perhaps I don't understand correctly. Any corrections or comments would be welcome.

 

[AndyW]

I can confirm that the term "negative energy" is indeed used in all three scenarios mentioned in the forum post. However, it is important to note that the concept and interpretation of negative energy may vary depending on the context in which it is used.

In the context of the Casimir effect, negative energy refers to the energy levels between the two plates that are lower than the vacuum energy level. This is a result of the quantized electromagnetic field between the plates, which creates a net force that pushes the plates together. This effect has been experimentally observed and has important implications in the field of quantum mechanics.

In the context of Hawking radiation, negative energy is associated with the sister particle of the radiated particle. This is because, in order for the black hole to lose mass-energy through Hawking radiation, the radiated particle must have a positive energy while its sister particle must have a negative energy. This is known as the principle of energy conservation in black hole thermodynamics.

In the context of wormholes, negative energy is proposed as a theoretical solution to the problem of traversability. It is believed that negative energy could be used to stabilize the wormhole and prevent it from collapsing. This is based on the concept of negative mass, which is still a highly debated and speculative topic in physics.

In conclusion, while the term "negative energy" is used in all three scenarios, its meaning and implications may differ based on the specific context. It is important to understand the underlying principles and theories behind each usage in order to fully grasp the concept of negative energy.