Vacuum Friction
Quantum Physics
2017-11-07 v2 Atomic Physics
Optics
Abstract
We know that in empty space there is no preferred state of rest. This is true both in special relativity but also in Newtonian mechanics with its associated Galilean relativity. It comes as something of a surprise, therefore, to discover the existence a friction force associated with spontaneous emission. he resolution of this paradox relies on a central idea from special relativity even though our derivation of it is non-relativistic. We examine the possibility that the physics underlying this effect might be explored in an ion trap, via the observation of a superposition of different mass states.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1709.05953,
title = {Vacuum Friction},
author = {Stephen M. Barnett and Matthias Sonnleitner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1709.05953},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
8 pages, 2 figures. Published in Journal of Modern Optics on 14 September 2017. Version 2 with a corrected typo on page 6