Related papers: The zero-point energy of elementary quantum fields
The present paper seeks to construct a quantum theory of the cosmological constant in which its presently observed very small value emerges naturally.
We consider a massive scalar field with a coordinate-dependent mass in higher-dimensional spacetime. The field satisfies Dirichlet boundary conditions on a brane representing the four-dimensional world. Despite being massive, the theory is…
If quantum friction existed [J.B. Pendry, New J. Phys. 12, 033028 (2010)] an unlimited amount of useful energy could be extracted from the quantum vacuum and Lifshitz theory would fail. Both are unlikely to be true.
We consider a model of an elementary particle as a 2 + 1 dimensional brane evolving in a 3 + 1 dimensional space. Introducing gauge fields that live in the brane as well as normal surface tension can lead to a stable "elementary particle"…
In a large class of factorizing scattering models, we construct candidates for the local energy density on the one-particle level starting from first principles, namely from the abstract properties of the energy density. We find that the…
An extension of the fundamental laws of thermodynamics and of the concept of entropy to the ground state fluctuations of the quantum fields is studied and some new results are found. At the end a device to extract energy from the vacuum…
We give a short review of recent progress on the positive energy theorem in general relativity, especially for spacetimes with nonzero cosmological constant.
Of the various energy conditions which can be assumed when studying mathematical general relativity, intuitively the simplest is the weak energy condition $\mu\geq 0$ which simply states that the observed mass-energy density must be…
Different theoretical and experimental aspects of electromagnetic phenomena in media is reviewed. The 100 year old Minkowski theory is in agreement with most experiments, but has theoretical problems related to its implied validity in all…
The assumption that the vacuum is the minimum energy state, invariant under unitary transformations, is fundamental to quantum field theory. However, the assertion that the conservation of charge implies that the equal time commutator of…
The interaction of the electric and magnetic dipole moments of a particle with the electromagnetic field is investigated in an approach that deals with four-dimensional (4D) geometric quantities. The new commutation relations for the 4D…
It has recently been proposed that quantum gravity might lead to the decoherence of superpositions in energy, corresponding to a discretization of time at the Planck scale. At first sight the proposal seems amenable to experimental…
There is a discussion between L. B. Okun, G. Veneziano and M. J. Duff, concerning the number of fundamental dimensionful constants in physics (physics/0110060). They advocated correspondingly 3, 2 and 0 fundamental constants. Here we…
It was known that a free, nonrelativistic particle in a superposition of positive momenta can, in certain cases, bear a negative probability current --- hence termed quantum backflow. Here, it is shown that more variations can be brought…
Four principles are proposed to underlie the quantum theory of gravity. We show that these suffice to recover the Einstein equations. We also suggest that MOND results from a modification of the classical equivalence principle, due to…
Disavowed by one its fathers, ill defined, never empirically tested, the Wheeler-DeWitt equation has nevertheless had a powerful influence on fundamental physics. A well deserved one.
The problem of cosmological constant and vacuum energy is usually thought of as the subject of general relativity. However, the vacuum energy is important for the Universe even in the absence of gravity, i.e. in the case when the Newton…
The epistemological interpretation of quantum mechanics is still in an unacceptable status. This becomes obvious if looking on the variety of interpretations currently under discussion. However, the physical community together with…
It is shown that the recently proposed quantum analogue of classical energy equipartition theorem for two paradigmatic, exactly solved models (i.e., a free Brownian particle and a dissipative harmonic oscillator) also holds true for all…
We present some arguments in support of a {\it zero} entropy for {\it extremal} black holes. These rely on a combination of both quantum, thermodynamic, and statistical physics arguments. This result may shed some light on the nature of…