We consider theoretically a closed (zero-dimensional) semiconductor microcavity where confined vacuum photonic mode is coupled to electrons in valence band of the semiconductor. It is shown that vacuum-induced virtual electron transitions between valence and conduction bands result in renormalization of electron energy spectrum. As a consequence, vacuum-induced band gaps appear within the valence band. Calculated values of the band gaps are of sub-meV scale, that makes this QED effect to be measurable in state-of-the-art experiments.
@article{arxiv.1410.1829,
title = {Band gaps induced by vacuum photons in closed semiconductor cavities},
author = {O. V. Kibis and K. B. Arnardottir and I. A. Shelykh},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1410.1829},
year = {2014}
}