Gennady Shipov Gennady Shipov

Uvitor, Bangkok, Thailand Uvitor, Bangkok, Thailand May 8, 2009May 8, 2009

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Beginning from Buddha Beginning from Buddha until Present timesuntil Present times

The Concept of Vacuum in Ancient The Concept of Vacuum in Ancient timestimes

Buddha (6th c. BC)

Void, Fire, Air,

Water, and Earth.

The Physical Vacuum

Plasma

Gas

Liquid

Solid

Levels of the Reality

Modern physics

The debate on the nature of space The debate on the nature of space engaged the Greatest minds of Science engaged the Greatest minds of Science ::

Space is the sensorium Space is the sensorium of God. It is absolute, of God. It is absolute,

existing apart from existing apart from matter.matter.

Space is relative Space is relative and must be and must be

thought of as a set thought of as a set of relationships of relationships

between material between material objects.objects.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716)

Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

Summary of the Vacuum in Summary of the Vacuum in Classical Mechanics:Classical Mechanics:

• Vacuum is 3D “absolute” spaceVacuum is 3D “absolute” space• The passive “stage” not effecting the “play” of force The passive “stage” not effecting the “play” of force

and motion.and motion.• Space is static and unchangeable.Space is static and unchangeable.• Geometry is Euclidean.Geometry is Euclidean.• Time marches according to an absolute, universal Time marches according to an absolute, universal

clock.clock.

Electromagnetic Waves and EtherElectromagnetic Waves and Ether

• We are familiar with many We are familiar with many types of waves: types of waves: water water waves, sound waves… waves, sound waves…

• In each case as above the In each case as above the wave needs some medium wave needs some medium (water, air, …) to propagate. (water, air, …) to propagate.

• In 1863, James Clerk In 1863, James Clerk Maxwell demonstrated that Maxwell demonstrated that light light was an was an electromagnetic wave. electromagnetic wave.

• ““Obviously,” light should Obviously,” light should propagate in a physical propagate in a physical medium too. This medium medium too. This medium replaced replaced E Etherther.. James Clerk Maxwell

(1831-1879)

The Special Theory of Relativity (1905)The Special Theory of Relativity (1905)• Einstein elevated the Einstein elevated the

Michelson-Morley null result Michelson-Morley null result up to fundamental principles up to fundamental principles of Nature: There is no Ether of Nature: There is no Ether andand

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

This fact made him to interpret “space” This fact made him to interpret “space” and “time” as a single entity:and “time” as a single entity:

The speed of light is constant, independent from the motion of

the source or the observer.

Space Time

Spacetime

The General Theory of Relativity The General Theory of Relativity

(1915)(1915)

• Matter warps Matter warps spacetime; falling spacetime; falling object follows straight object follows straight lines in the curved 4D lines in the curved 4D spacetime.spacetime.

• ““Space tells matter how Space tells matter how to move; matter tells to move; matter tells space how to curve”space how to curve”

• Ether is Physical Ether is Physical Vacuum, possessing Vacuum, possessing properties of elasticityproperties of elasticity

M

Summary: Summary:

Vacuum in General Vacuum in General RelativityRelativity• Active player in the dynamics of physics.Active player in the dynamics of physics.

• Space can change. In fact, it is difficult to Space can change. In fact, it is difficult to attain a static Universe . The dynamics of attain a static Universe . The dynamics of spacetime determines the fate of the spacetime determines the fate of the Universe.Universe.

• Geometry can be non-Euclidean.Geometry can be non-Euclidean.

• Vacuum is to be described by the Vacuum is to be described by the equations, which were confirmed equations, which were confirmed experimentallyexperimentally

i

t

2

2m2 V

Schrödinger’sSchrödinger’s Wave Mechanics (1926)Wave Mechanics (1926)

The Schrödinger's equation predicts The Schrödinger's equation predicts the structure of all atoms the structure of all atoms

Quantum Electrodynamics is the Quantum Electrodynamics is the most accurate theory known to most accurate theory known to mankind. A predicted precision is mankind. A predicted precision is better than a part better than a part in a billionin a billion

Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961)

Paul Dirac (1902-1984)

Wave – Particle

The Quantum The Quantum CrisisCrisis

Bohr and Einstein in discussion 1933

We don’t understand Quantum Physics

It is not necessary tounderstand it

God does not play dice !

Later have accepted Einstein’s point of view

Vacuum Energy

Vacuum is a seethingVacuum is a seething fluctuation of fluctuation of electromagnetic fieldelectromagnetic field

Casimir Effect

The minimum possible energy for the quantum oscillator is E0= ½ h.

Quantum OscillatorQuantum Oscillator

Hendrik Cazimir (1909-2000)Hendrik Cazimir (1909-2000)

En = (n+ ½ )h (n=0,1,2…)

Zero-point Zero-point ‘vacuum fluctuation’ ‘vacuum fluctuation’ energyenergy

i

t

2

2m2 V

S. K. Lamoreaux, PRL 78, 5 (1997).

Prediction (1948): Prediction (1948): A weak A weak attractive force between the attractive force between the two mirrors:two mirrors:

That force was measured in 1996:That force was measured in 1996:

Lamb ShiftLamb Shiftin the hydrogen atomin the hydrogen atomproduced byproduced by

Vacuum FluctuationsVacuum Fluctuations(virtual photon emission and (virtual photon emission and absorption)absorption)

2s

2p

2p

1/2

1/2

3/2

1s

2p2s

1075 MHz

Willis Lamb(1913-2008)

The Energy of The Energy of Vacuum:Vacuum:

• With the quantum nature of the vacuum this is With the quantum nature of the vacuum this is no longer required that the energy density of the no longer required that the energy density of the vacuum is zero.vacuum is zero.

• We can calculate the vacuum energy density, E We can calculate the vacuum energy density, E

vacvac, by adding up the zero-point energies of all , by adding up the zero-point energies of all the quantum oscillators that make up the fields.the quantum oscillators that make up the fields.

E vac infinity (simplest calculation) E vac = 1055 ( calculation - supersymmetry)

Theory:

<E>vac 0Reality:

Occupied Dirac-Sea

Electron- Positron Vacuum of Dirac

2 2 2 4 p p c m c

0

2mc2 >

-e

+e

Quantum FieldsQuantum Fields• Relativity meets Relativity meets

quantum mechanics: quantum mechanics: everythingeverything is an is an oscillator!oscillator!

• Each type of particle Each type of particle (photon, electron,…) is (photon, electron,…) is described by a field that described by a field that fills all the space.fills all the space.

• At each point in space, At each point in space, the field has the ability to the field has the ability to oscillate at any oscillate at any frequency.frequency.

• Vacuum is the sea of Vacuum is the sea of the quantum the quantum oscillatorsoscillators Richard Feynman (1918-1988)

Virtual and Real Virtual and Real ParticlesParticles

Main Law of Conservation of the Physical Vacuum Main Law of Conservation of the Physical Vacuum

0 ≡ 00 ≡ 0

REAL PARTICLE

REAL ANTIPARTICLE

VACUUM

VACUUM

A simulation of the Physical Vacuum

Magnification 10 34

l p = 16.163×10^−36 m

l p =(hG/c )3 1/2

Spontaneous symmetry breaking

The Higgs boson massm = (-2) God particle

2 1/2

H

Peter Higss

JeffreyJeffreyGoldstoneGoldstoneGoldstone Theorem

Every symmetry of nature, that is not a symmetry of the ground State implies the existence of an elementary particle.

< 0

2222)( V

2

Summary of the Quantum Summary of the Quantum VacuumVacuum

• Filled with the fields corresponding to Filled with the fields corresponding to each type of a particle.each type of a particle.

• Think of the field as describing the Think of the field as describing the potential for particles to exist.potential for particles to exist.

• Quantum fluctuations of the fields, Quantum fluctuations of the fields, even when no particles are present, even when no particles are present, meaning that the vacuum contains a meaning that the vacuum contains a sea of “virtual particles”.sea of “virtual particles”.

Dark Energy Dark Energy - is the - is the Energy of Energy of Physical Physical VacuumVacuumin the Spacein the Space

Perlmutter et al., Perlmutter et al., 19981998Riess et al., 1998Riess et al., 1998

The Universe The Universe was expanding was expanding slower in the slower in the distant past!distant past!

Dark EnergyDark Energy• The vacuum appears to have a nonzero The vacuum appears to have a nonzero

energy density that is propelling the energy density that is propelling the accelerating expansion of the Universe.accelerating expansion of the Universe.

• Data (Feb. 2003):Data (Feb. 2003):

• This result implies that nearly ¾ of the This result implies that nearly ¾ of the energy density of the Universe resides not energy density of the Universe resides not in matter or radiation but in the Vacuum in matter or radiation but in the Vacuum itself! itself!

• The cosmological constant: Einstein’s The cosmological constant: Einstein’s greatest legacy?!greatest legacy?!

E vac = 0.73 0.04

Energy budget of UniverseEnergy budget of Universe

• Stars and galaxies are only ~0.5%Stars and galaxies are only ~0.5%

• Neutrinos are ~0.3–10%Neutrinos are ~0.3–10%

• Rest of ordinary matter (electrons and protons) Rest of ordinary matter (electrons and protons) are ~5%are ~5%

• Dark Matter ~30%Dark Matter ~30%

• Dark Energy (vacuum energy of the space) ~65%Dark Energy (vacuum energy of the space) ~65%

• Anti-Matter 0%Anti-Matter 0%

ConclusionConclusion

The vacuum is a dynamic place:The vacuum is a dynamic place:– Space and time are intertwined.Space and time are intertwined.– Curved by matter; this curvature affects Curved by matter; this curvature affects

motion.motion.– A roiling sea of virtual particles created A roiling sea of virtual particles created

by quantum fluctuations.by quantum fluctuations.– Contains a nonzero energy density that Contains a nonzero energy density that

makes up ~70% of the energy of the makes up ~70% of the energy of the Universe. The nature of this “dark Universe. The nature of this “dark energy” is almost completely unknown.energy” is almost completely unknown.

– The dark energy propels the accelerating The dark energy propels the accelerating expansion of the Universe. expansion of the Universe.

Perhaps the hottest topic in physics right now.

Of what we consist?

DNADNA

AtomAtom

ProtonProton

MoleculeMolecule

NucleusNucleus

QuarkQuarkVacuumVacuum

We are highly organized vacuum!We are highly organized vacuum!

Life

LifeLife