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JG1009
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I'm relatively new to QFT and was wondering how the QED vacuum has a dormant zero average-field condition if there is a zero-point energy of the field as well? How is there a zero average and a zero point energy?
JG1009 said:I'm relatively new to QFT and was wondering how the QED vacuum has a dormant zero average-field condition if there is a zero-point energy of the field as well? How is there a zero average and a zero point energy?
JG1009 said:I'm relatively new to QFT and was wondering how the QED vacuum has a dormant zero average-field condition if there is a zero-point energy of the field as well? How is there a zero average and a zero point energy?
JG1009 said:I'm relatively new to QFT and was wondering how the QED vacuum has a dormant zero average-field condition if there is a zero-point energy of the field as well? How is there a zero average and a zero point energy?
Only when there is stuff in it, if you take away the stuff you have no "space" to describe. Space and the zero point vacuum state are a geometry.Xertese said:Space is described as a void but it is anything but.
andresB said:There is also this posibility
(Mechanism for Vanishing Zero Point Energy)
http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0309679
Zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy state that a quantum mechanical physical system can have. It is the energy that remains in a system even at its lowest possible temperature (absolute zero). This concept arises from the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, which states that even in a vacuum, there is still some residual energy present.
The QED vacuum state, also known as the quantum vacuum state or the vacuum of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), is the lowest energy state of a quantum field theory. It is considered to be the state of the universe at its lowest possible energy level, and it is characterized by the presence of virtual particles constantly popping in and out of existence.
The concept of zero-point energy is closely related to the QED vacuum state. In quantum field theory, the vacuum state is not truly empty, as it contains fluctuations and virtual particles. These fluctuations contribute to the zero-point energy of the system, which is the minimum energy that remains even at absolute zero. Therefore, the QED vacuum state plays a crucial role in the existence of zero-point energy.
There is ongoing research and debate about the potential practical applications of zero-point energy. Some theories propose that it could be harnessed for energy generation, propulsion systems, and even as a potential source for the creation of matter. However, there is currently no conclusive evidence or technology that can efficiently harness zero-point energy for practical use.
The existence of zero-point energy and the QED vacuum state has significant implications for our understanding of the universe, particularly in cosmology. These concepts play a crucial role in theories such as the inflationary model of the universe, which explains the rapid expansion of the universe in its early stages. They also help us understand the large-scale structure of the universe and the effects of vacuum energy on the expansion of the universe.