Related papers: The zero-point energy of elementary quantum fields
We show analytically that the vacuum electromagnetic stress-energy tensor outside a ball with constant dielectric constant and permeability always obeys the weak, null, dominant, and strong energy conditions. There are still no known…
The problem of the `infinite energy' of a point charge is well known in connection with the Lorentz--Abraham--Dirac equation and, more significantly, in quantum electrodynamics. Though it is not stated usually, this is strongly related to…
We consider one-dimensional propagation of quantum light in the presence of a block of material, with a full account of dispersion and absorption. The electromagnetic zero-point energy for some frequencies is damped (suppressed) by the…
By example of a model with a spatially global scalar field, we show that the energy density of zero-point modes is exponentially suppressed by an average number of field quanta in a finite volume with respect to the energy density in the…
Energy densities of the quantum states that are superposition of two multi-electron-positron states are examined. It is shown that the energy densities can be negative only when two multi-particle states have the same number of electrons…
In a recent paper [1] the Casimir energy was calculated for a massive dirac field in (1+1) dimensional space-time in the presence of an inverse square well potential and shown to be positive. It will be shown that this result violates a key…
A modified-gravity theory with a four-form field strength $F$, a variable gravitational coupling parameter $G(F)$, and a standard matter action is considered here. Maxwell and Einstein equations are now derived when including to action also…
The possibility of a symmetry between gravitating and anti-gravitating particles is examined. The properties of the anti-gravitating fields are defined by their behavior under general diffeomorphisms. The equations of motion and the…
Atomic-like systems in which electronic motion is two dimensional are now realizable as ``quantum dots''. In place of the attraction of a nucleus there is a confining potential, usually assumed to be quadratic. Additionally, a perpendicular…
The positive energy theorem precludes the possibility of Minkowski flat space decaying by any mechanism. In certain circumstances, however, large quantum fluctuations of the gravitational field could arise---not only at the Planck scale,…
It is shown that the total energy of the vacuum fluctuations of the electron-positron and electromagnetic fields in the quantum electrodynamics can be equal to zero if the "bare" electron charge is chosen by adequate way. The value of…
The purpose of this paper is to show that the composite photon theory measures up well against the Standard Model's elementary photon theory. This is done by comparing the two theories area by area. Although the predictions of quantum…
The concept of energy balance is a key one in climate science. Yet, students may find it counterintuitive: while it is obvious that some energy comes in from the sun, the part coming out is more elusive. Asking them why the earth is not…
The regularized vacuum energy (or energy density) of a quantum field subjected to static external conditions is shown to satisfy a certain partial differential equation with respect to two variables, the mass and the "time" (ultraviolet…
We analyze the zero point energy of composite particles (or resonances) which are dynamically created from relativistic fermions. We compare the zero point energies in medium to the vacuum one, taking into account the medium modification of…
In the absence of empirical confirmation, scientists may judge a theory's chances of being viable based on a wide range of arguments. The paper argues that such arguments can differ substantially with regard to their structural similarly to…
A common assumption in quantum field theory is that the energy-momentum 4-vector of any quantum state must be time-like. It will be proven that this is not the case for a Dirac-Maxwell field. In this case quantum states can be shown to…
Employing concrete examples from nuclear physics it is shown that low energy nuclear reactions can and have been induced by all of the four fundamental interactions (i) (stellar) gravitational, (ii) strong, (iii) electromagnetic and (iv)…
A common understanding of quantum mechanics (QM) among students and practical users is often plagued by a number of "myths", that is, widely accepted claims on which there is not really a general consensus among experts in foundations of…
The expressions of momentum and energy of a particle in special relativity are often derived in a quite unconvincing manner in elementary text, by resorting either to electrodynamic or quantum considerations, or via the introduction of the…