Polarization of Vacuum
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Open Access Journal of Physics Volume 2, Issue 3, 2018, PP 15-24 ISSN- 2637-5826 Polarization of Vacuum Stanislav Konstantinov Department of Physical Electronics, Russian State Pedagogical University, St.Petersburg, RSC”Energy”, Russia *Corresponding Author: Stanislav Konstantinov,Department of Physical Electronics, Russian State Pedagogical University, St.Petersburg, RSC”Energy”, Russia ABSTRACT The study of the vacuum polarization phenomenon and the nature of its quantum structure is an actual problem in modern physics. Ignoring this fact often leads to erroneous interpretation of the experimental data. In quantum electrodynamics (QED), the instability of a physical vacuum is characterized by the formation of pairs of elementary particles. The article contains descriptions of experiments, that allow substantiate the quantum structure of vacuum and the reality of particles arising in a vacuum as a result of its polarization. The idea of "virtuality" of particles is connected with the inability of quantum field theory to describe the real mechanism of vacuum polarization. Keywords: vacuum; dark matter; polarization; electron; positron; proton; resonance INTRODUCTION particles and antiparticles in a vacuum under the action of external fields, relying on the In classical electrodynamics, vacuum is a corresponding the Klein-Gordon-Fock and "medium" with absolute dielectric and magnetic Diract equations. permeability (εₐ, μₐ), which are equal to the dielectric and magnetic constant (εₒ, μₒ). The POLARIZATION OF VACUUM AND electric strength of the vacuum is infinite, that TRANSFORMATION OF VACUUM INTO is, theoretically the electric field of any intensity MATTER cannot cause conduction currents in a vacuum due to the lack of charge carriers. In other In quantum theory, vacuum polarization is a words, the electric field strength E, the magnetic collection of virtual processes of creation and field strength H, as well as the density of annihilation of pairs of particles in a vacuum electromagnetic energy in vacuum defined by caused by quantum fluctuations. Nobel laureate them, can be infinitely large. It should be noted R. Feynman presented such fluctuations that these conclusions are obtained from the geometrically in the form of diagrams [4]. standpoint of the classical electrodynamics of Feynman constructed diagrams abstracting from Maxwell's linear field and, in the light of the real physical processes, so he pictured vacuum latest achievements of quantum electrodynamics with a wavy line, and the virtual fluctuation that (QED), are incorrect. In QED, the instability of appeared in it is shown by a ring or a loop a physical vacuum under the influence of formed by symmetrical arrows (Fig. 1). cosmic radiation, relativistic protons and However, the wave image implies that this wave electrons, peak electric fields, or high-intensity moves, and on the diagram of this movement is laser radiation is characterized by the avalanche not indicated, therefore the ring can arise only if formation of electron-positron pairs in a vacuum it is formed from a point. This means that the [1,2,3]. Nils Bohr was right when he stated 80 vacuum should be shown on such a diagram by years ago that "it is impossible to attain a a certain point object, which is transformed into tension of the order of Es for the field that a ring of fluctuations. Feynman, depicting such generates electron-positron pairs." ( Es= m²/e = a fluctuation separately, depicted it in the form 1,32·10¹⁶ V∙cmˉ¹ the characteristic quantum- of a ring in which an electron and a positron electrodynamics Sauter’s field) [3]. It should be move in one orbit, in one direction one after noted that any quantum process of pair another, at diametrically opposite points of this production from vacuum is accompanied by ring. Considering the electron-positron pair, it is various many partial processes. In QED there is necessary to pay attention to the fact that in still no complete clarity on how to solve the addition to the charge, each elementary particle problem of the production of pairs of elementary has a spin, which indicates that the particle has a Open Access Journal of Physics V2● 13 ● 2018 15 Polarization of Vacuum rotation and has an axis of such rotation. The at extremely small Planck distances ~ 10ˉ³⁵m. It claimed zero parameters of the vacuum quantum is assumed that the processes of gravitational are fully realized. Two opposite electric charges polarization of vacuum play an important role in cancel each other, and both spins add up with cosmology [5]. the opposite sign and both rotations are also With the polarization of the vacuum and its mutually compensated. With respect to mass transformation into matter, the change in the compensation, the explanation is this: each of energy of the vacuum w can be represented as a the pair particles is a quantum gyroscope, which sum: means. That the axis of rotation of the particle is strictly defined in space and remains unchanged. w = wᵖ + wᵉͬ (1) In order for an electron and a positron to where wᵖ is the vacuum polarization, wᵖ << E² / perform a joint gyroscopic rotation in a pair, the 8π; axes of their rotation must coincide. wᵉͬ is the change in the energy of the substance at the production of particles e2E2T m 2 wᵉͬ =eETϗ, ϗ = exp(−π ) (2) 4π3 ћ E The creation of particles is the main reason for the change in the energy of the vacuum. The small value of the reverse reaction wᵖ implies the limitation on the electric field strength for a given time T (Es ≈ 10¹⁶ V ∙ cmˉ¹ is the critical Schwinger’s field) [1]. Figure1. The Feymann's of diagram. The electron- In studies conducted in 1996-99 on the SLAC positron pair (virtual ring) linear accelerator, only a few electron-positron At the same time, the quantum vacuum is pair creation events were detected at a laser transformed into a quantum particle by the pulse intensity of 10¹⁷ W∙ cmˉ². Due to the fact Heisenberg's relation. By virtue of the uncertainty that within the framework of the ELI and principle in a vacuum, virtual particles can exist. In XCELS projects the laser radiation intensity this case, even the creation of charged particles in available for experiments has increased to 10²³ pair with its antiparticle is possible. Such a W ∙ cmˉ² and higher, it has become possible to production of a pair of particles on the Feynman's study the nonlinear vacuum effects that have so diagram is represented by a virtual ring. A virtual far not been experimentally studied. Thus, at the ring, supposedly, can exist for a very short time - level of ultrahigh intensities 10²⁶ W ∙ cmˉ², the within the quantum uncertainty δt ~ ћ / δE, so as not effect of scattering of a laser pulse on an to violate the law of conservation of energy. electron beam with an energy of 46.6 GeV (nonlinear Compton effect) causes such In quantum electrodynamics, vacuum polarization cascades of successive hard-photon emissions consists in the formation of virtual electron- that the creation of secondary electron-positron positron pairs under the influence of a quantum pairs in vacuum is a chain reaction that of the electromagnetic field of a photon or under continues up to up to the moment of complete the influence of a peak electric field. In 2011, it loss of energy by charged particles. This is very was found that in the presence of a strong reminiscent of the extensive atmospheric magnetic field H ≈ 10¹⁶ T from virtual particles showers generated by cosmic particles. They are of a quantum vacuum, relatively stable particles called S-cascades (from the English shower - a are formed (lifetime 16 · 10ˉ²³ sec.) [5]. At the shower) [2,3]. In this comparison of space same time, experiments show that if an external observations with the results of laboratory field acts on the vacuum, then the creation of studies demonstrates deep analogies, real particles is possible due to its energy evidencing, at a minimum, the unity of the [1,2,3]. Precisely because the vacuum is not a physical principles of the behavior of matter in a virtual but a real physical object (dark matter) wide range of densities and temperatures. and has a structure, the vacuum polarization Perhaps the creation of electron-positron pairs in leads not to virtual, but real radiation corrections a vacuum is a manifestation of the instability of to the laws of quantum electrodynamics [5]. dark matter. Today, according to the results of In the theory of gravitation, vacuum polarization the experiments at CERN, many physicists is also present, and theoretically it is manifested believe that dark matter is connected with the 16 Open Access Journal of Physics V2● 13 ● 2018 Polarization of Vacuum study of the microworld at the smallest if vacuum polarization is caused by the distances, and everything suggests that dark motion of relativistic proton or by a peak matter can act as a electric field strictly oriented in one vacuum in experiments in near-Earth space [6]. direction E The very definition of dark matter falls under An experimental confirmation of this could be the description of the properties of vacuum in the appearance of a flow of backward electrons quantum electrodynamics - not to radiate and be with a "soft" energy spectrum in multiwave invisible, to have mass and to possess a Cherenkov generators (MWCG). One of the structure, to exhibit elastic properties in the peculiarities of the work of MWCG using an propagation of electromagnetic waves. The electron beam of microsecond duration with an quantum structure of the vacuum is due to initial charged-particle energy Wₑ ~ 2 MeV and particles in the low-energy state. The instability a common current I ~ 20 kA is a relatively short of a vacuum under the influence of cosmic radiation pulse in the three-centimeter radiation, relativistic protons and electrons or wavelength range with a record power level of peak electric fields is a purely quantum up to 15 GW [9].