Does the Quantum Vacuum Fall Near the Earth?
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The Five Common Particles
The Five Common Particles The world around you consists of only three particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons form the nuclei of atoms, and electrons glue everything together and create chemicals and materials. Along with the photon and the neutrino, these particles are essentially the only ones that exist in our solar system, because all the other subatomic particles have half-lives of typically 10-9 second or less, and vanish almost the instant they are created by nuclear reactions in the Sun, etc. Particles interact via the four fundamental forces of nature. Some basic properties of these forces are summarized below. (Other aspects of the fundamental forces are also discussed in the Summary of Particle Physics document on this web site.) Force Range Common Particles It Affects Conserved Quantity gravity infinite neutron, proton, electron, neutrino, photon mass-energy electromagnetic infinite proton, electron, photon charge -14 strong nuclear force ≈ 10 m neutron, proton baryon number -15 weak nuclear force ≈ 10 m neutron, proton, electron, neutrino lepton number Every particle in nature has specific values of all four of the conserved quantities associated with each force. The values for the five common particles are: Particle Rest Mass1 Charge2 Baryon # Lepton # proton 938.3 MeV/c2 +1 e +1 0 neutron 939.6 MeV/c2 0 +1 0 electron 0.511 MeV/c2 -1 e 0 +1 neutrino ≈ 1 eV/c2 0 0 +1 photon 0 eV/c2 0 0 0 1) MeV = mega-electron-volt = 106 eV. It is customary in particle physics to measure the mass of a particle in terms of how much energy it would represent if it were converted via E = mc2. -
Curiens Principle and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
Curie’sPrinciple and spontaneous symmetry breaking John Earman Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Abstract In 1894 Pierre Curie announced what has come to be known as Curie’s Principle: the asymmetry of e¤ects must be found in their causes. In the same publication Curie discussed a key feature of what later came to be known as spontaneous symmetry breaking: the phenomena generally do not exhibit the symmetries of the laws that govern them. Philosophers have long been interested in the meaning and status of Curie’s Principle. Only comparatively recently have they begun to delve into the mysteries of spontaneous symmetry breaking. The present paper aims to advance the dis- cussion of both of these twin topics by tracing their interaction in classical physics, ordinary quantum mechanics, and quantum …eld theory. The fea- tures of spontaneous symmetry that are peculiar to quantum …eld theory have received scant attention in the philosophical literature. These features are highlighted here, along with a explanation of why Curie’sPrinciple, though valid in quantum …eld theory, is nearly vacuous in that context. 1. Introduction The statement of what is now called Curie’sPrinciple was announced in 1894 by Pierre Curie: (CP) When certain e¤ects show a certain asymmetry, this asym- metry must be found in the causes which gave rise to it (Curie 1894, p. 401).1 This principle is vague enough to allow some commentators to see in it pro- found truth while others see only falsity (compare Chalmers 1970; Radicati 1987; van Fraassen 1991, pp. -
Supersymmetric Dark Matter
Supersymmetric dark matter G. Bélanger LAPTH- Annecy Plan | Dark matter : motivation | Introduction to supersymmetry | MSSM | Properties of neutralino | Status of LSP in various SUSY models | Other DM candidates z SUSY z Non-SUSY | DM : signals, direct detection, LHC Dark matter: a WIMP? | Strong evidence that DM dominates over visible matter. Data from rotation curves, clusters, supernovae, CMB all point to large DM component | DM a new particle? | SM is incomplete : arbitrary parameters, hierarchy problem z DM likely to be related to physics at weak scale, new physics at the weak scale can also solve EWSB z Stable particle protect by symmetry z Many solutions – supersymmetry is one best motivated alternative to SM | NP at electroweak scale could also explain baryonic asymetry in the universe Relic density of wimps | In early universe WIMPs are present in large number and they are in thermal equilibrium | As the universe expanded and cooled their density is reduced Freeze-out through pair annihilation | Eventually density is too low for annihilation process to keep up with expansion rate z Freeze-out temperature | LSP decouples from standard model particles, density depends only on expansion rate of the universe | Relic density | A relic density in agreement with present measurements (Ωh2 ~0.1) requires typical weak interactions cross-section Coannihilation | If M(NLSP)~M(LSP) then maintains thermal equilibrium between NLSP-LSP even after SUSY particles decouple from standard ones | Relic density then depends on rate for all processes -
Meson-Exchange Forces and Medium Polarization in Finite Nuclei
—11005 MESON-EXCHANGE FORCES AND MEDIUM POLARIZATION IN FINITE NUCLEI a) 15 10 x/ r\ o 10 O W. Hengeveld MESON-EXCHANGE FORCES AND MEDIUM POLARIZATION IN FINITE NUCLEI Free University Press is an imprint of: VU BoekhandeUUHgeverij b.v. De Boelalaan 1105 1061 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands ISBN 90-8250-140-3 CIP © W. HengevekJ, Amsterdam, 1966. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT TE AMSTERDAM MESON-EXCHANGE FORCES AND MEDIUM POLARIZATION IN FINITE NUCLEI ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor in de wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen aan de Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus dr. P.J.D. Drenth, hoogleraar in de faculteit der sociale wetenschappen, in het openbaar te verdedigen op donderdag 1 mei 1986 te 15.30 uur in het hoofdgebouw der universiteit. De Boelelaan 1105 door WILLEM HENGEVELD geboren te Woubrugge # Free University Press Amsterdam 1986 Promotor : prof. dr. E. Boeker Copromotor: dr. K. Allaart Referent : dr. W.H. Dickhoff DANKBETUIGING Zonder de volgende personen zou dit proefschrift niet geschreven of gedrukt zijn: Klaas Allaart worstelde de verschillende onleesbare eerste versies door. Zijn bijdrage aan de presentatie was, in alle opzichten, onmisbaar. Wim Dickhoff gaf niet alleen de grote lijn maar ook de details alle aandacht. Zijn onwrikbare geloof in de mogelijkheden van een formele benadering van kernstructuur, heeft de inhoud van dit proefschrift voor een groot deel bepaald. -
Quantum Statistics: Is There an Effective Fermion Repulsion Or Boson Attraction? W
Quantum statistics: Is there an effective fermion repulsion or boson attraction? W. J. Mullin and G. Blaylock Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 ͑Received 13 February 2003; accepted 16 May 2003͒ Physicists often claim that there is an effective repulsion between fermions, implied by the Pauli principle, and a corresponding effective attraction between bosons. We examine the origins and validity of such exchange force ideas and the areas where they are highly misleading. We propose that explanations of quantum statistics should avoid the idea of an effective force completely, and replace it with more appropriate physical insights, some of which are suggested here. © 2003 American Association of Physics Teachers. ͓DOI: 10.1119/1.1590658͔ ͒ϭ ͒ Ϫ␣ Ϫ ϩ ͒2 I. INTRODUCTION ͑x1 ,x2 ,t C͕f ͑x1 ,x2 exp͓ ͑x1 vt a Ϫ͑x ϩvtϪa͒2͔Ϫ f ͑x ,x ͒ The Pauli principle states that no two fermions can have 2 2 1 ϫ Ϫ␣ Ϫ ϩ ͒2Ϫ ϩ Ϫ ͒2 the same quantum numbers. The origin of this law is the exp͓ ͑x2 vt a ͑x1 vt a ͔͖, required antisymmetry of the multi-fermion wavefunction. ͑1͒ Most physicists have heard or read a shorthand way of ex- pressing the Pauli principle, which says something analogous where x1 and x2 are the particle coordinates, f (x1 ,x2) ϭ ͓ Ϫ ប͔ to fermions being ‘‘antisocial’’ and bosons ‘‘gregarious.’’ Of- exp imv(x1 x2)/ , C is a time-dependent factor, and the ten this intuitive approach involves the statement that there is packet width parameters ␣ and  are unequal. -
THE STRONG INTERACTION by J
MISN-0-280 THE STRONG INTERACTION by J. R. Christman 1. Abstract . 1 2. Readings . 1 THE STRONG INTERACTION 3. Description a. General E®ects, Range, Lifetimes, Conserved Quantities . 1 b. Hadron Exchange: Exchanged Mass & Interaction Time . 1 s 0 c. Charge Exchange . 2 d L u 4. Hadron States a. Virtual Particles: Necessity, Examples . 3 - s u - S d e b. Open- and Closed-Channel States . 3 d n c. Comparison of Virtual and Real Decays . 4 d e 5. Resonance Particles L0 a. Particles as Resonances . .4 b. Overview of Resonance Particles . .5 - c. Resonance-Particle Symbols . 6 - _ e S p p- _ 6. Particle Names n T Y n e a. Baryon Names; , . 6 b. Meson Names; G-Parity, T , Y . 6 c. Evolution of Names . .7 d. The Berkeley Particle Data Group Hadron Tables . 7 7. Hadron Structure a. All Hadrons: Possible Exchange Particles . 8 b. The Excited State Hypothesis . 8 c. Quarks as Hadron Constituents . 8 Acknowledgments. .8 Project PHYSNET·Physics Bldg.·Michigan State University·East Lansing, MI 1 2 ID Sheet: MISN-0-280 THIS IS A DEVELOPMENTAL-STAGE PUBLICATION Title: The Strong Interaction OF PROJECT PHYSNET Author: J. R. Christman, Dept. of Physical Science, U. S. Coast Guard The goal of our project is to assist a network of educators and scientists in Academy, New London, CT transferring physics from one person to another. We support manuscript Version: 11/8/2001 Evaluation: Stage B1 processing and distribution, along with communication and information systems. We also work with employers to identify basic scienti¯c skills Length: 2 hr; 12 pages as well as physics topics that are needed in science and technology. -
Consistent Treatment of Pion Exchange Force and Meson Versus Quark Dynamics in the N Ucleon-Nucleon Interaction
Aust. J. Phys., 1993, 46, 737-50 Consistent Treatment of Pion Exchange Force and Meson versus Quark Dynamics in the N ucleon-Nucleon Interaction G. Q. Liu A and A. W. Thomas B Department of Physics and Mathematical Physics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, S.A. 5005, Australia. A E-mail: [email protected]. BE-mail: [email protected]. Abstract To distinguish explicit quark effects from meson exchange in the NN interaction, it is necessary to splice the long-range meson exchange forces and short-distance dynamics due to quarks. However, in most quark model studies the short-range part of the pion exchange is usually treated differently, which makes it difficult to get a uniform picture of the short-range dynamics. We make a comparison between meson exchange and quark-gluon dynamics using the same pion exchange potential based on a quark-pion coupling model. The roles of vector meson exchange and gluon exchange in the NN interaction are compared by calculating NN phase parameters. It is shown that, with this consistent one-pion exchange force, the vector meson exchange gives a better fit to the data. This suggests that non-perturbative mechanisms responsible for meson exchange may need more careful handling to supplement the usual one-gluon exchange mechanism in describing the NN interaction. 1. Introduction The extent to which the constituent quark model can be used to describe the NN interaction is still under debate. This is manifested by the various quark-based models that provide different pictures for the short-range NN force (for recent reviews see MyhreI' and Wroldsen 1988; Shimizu 1989). -
A Discussion on Characteristics of the Quantum Vacuum
A Discussion on Characteristics of the Quantum Vacuum Harold \Sonny" White∗ NASA/Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Pkwy M/C EP411, Houston, TX (Dated: September 17, 2015) This paper will begin by considering the quantum vacuum at the cosmological scale to show that the gravitational coupling constant may be viewed as an emergent phenomenon, or rather a long wavelength consequence of the quantum vacuum. This cosmological viewpoint will be reconsidered on a microscopic scale in the presence of concentrations of \ordinary" matter to determine the impact on the energy state of the quantum vacuum. The derived relationship will be used to predict a radius of the hydrogen atom which will be compared to the Bohr radius for validation. The ramifications of this equation will be explored in the context of the predicted electron mass, the electrostatic force, and the energy density of the electric field around the hydrogen nucleus. It will finally be shown that this perturbed energy state of the quan- tum vacuum can be successfully modeled as a virtual electron-positron plasma, or the Dirac vacuum. PACS numbers: 95.30.Sf, 04.60.Bc, 95.30.Qd, 95.30.Cq, 95.36.+x I. BACKGROUND ON STANDARD MODEL OF COSMOLOGY Prior to developing the central theme of the paper, it will be useful to present the reader with an executive summary of the characteristics and mathematical relationships central to what is now commonly referred to as the standard model of Big Bang cosmology, the Friedmann-Lema^ıtre-Robertson-Walker metric. The Friedmann equations are analytic solutions of the Einstein field equations using the FLRW metric, and Equation(s) (1) show some commonly used forms that include the cosmological constant[1], Λ. -
On the Stability of Classical Orbits of the Hydrogen Ground State in Stochastic Electrodynamics
entropy Article On the Stability of Classical Orbits of the Hydrogen Ground State in Stochastic Electrodynamics Theodorus M. Nieuwenhuizen 1,2 1 Institute for Theoretical Physics, P.O. Box 94485, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands; [email protected]; Tel.: +31-20-525-6332 2 International Institute of Physics, UFRG, Av. O. Gomes de Lima, 1722, 59078-400 Natal-RN, Brazil Academic Editors: Gregg Jaeger and Andrei Khrennikov Received: 19 February 2016; Accepted: 31 March 2016; Published: 13 April 2016 Abstract: De la Peña 1980 and Puthoff 1987 show that circular orbits in the hydrogen problem of Stochastic Electrodynamics connect to a stable situation, where the electron neither collapses onto the nucleus nor gets expelled from the atom. Although the Cole-Zou 2003 simulations support the stability, our recent numerics always lead to self-ionisation. Here the de la Peña-Puthoff argument is extended to elliptic orbits. For very eccentric orbits with energy close to zero and angular momentum below some not-small value, there is on the average a net gain in energy for each revolution, which explains the self-ionisation. Next, an 1/r2 potential is added, which could stem from a dipolar deformation of the nuclear charge by the electron at its moving position. This shape retains the analytical solvability. When it is enough repulsive, the ground state of this modified hydrogen problem is predicted to be stable. The same conclusions hold for positronium. Keywords: Stochastic Electrodynamics; hydrogen ground state; stability criterion PACS: 11.10; 05.20; 05.30; 03.65 1. Introduction Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED) is a subquantum theory that considers the quantum vacuum as a true physical vacuum with its zero-point modes being physical electromagnetic modes (see [1,2]). -
A Generalization of the One-Dimensional Boson-Fermion Duality Through the Path-Integral Formalsim
A Generalization of the One-Dimensional Boson-Fermion Duality Through the Path-Integral Formalism Satoshi Ohya Institute of Quantum Science, Nihon University, Kanda-Surugadai 1-8-14, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-8308, Japan [email protected] (Dated: May 11, 2021) Abstract We study boson-fermion dualities in one-dimensional many-body problems of identical parti- cles interacting only through two-body contacts. By using the path-integral formalism as well as the configuration-space approach to indistinguishable particles, we find a generalization of the boson-fermion duality between the Lieb-Liniger model and the Cheon-Shigehara model. We present an explicit construction of n-boson and n-fermion models which are dual to each other and characterized by n−1 distinct (coordinate-dependent) coupling constants. These models enjoy the spectral equivalence, the boson-fermion mapping, and the strong-weak duality. We also discuss a scale-invariant generalization of the boson-fermion duality. arXiv:2105.04288v1 [quant-ph] 10 May 2021 1 1 Introduction Inhisseminalpaper[1] in 1960, Girardeau proved the one-to-one correspondence—the duality—between one-dimensional spinless bosons and fermions with hard-core interparticle interactions. By using this duality, he presented a celebrated example of the spectral equivalence between impenetrable bosons and free fermions. Since then, the one-dimensional boson-fermion duality has been a testing ground for studying strongly-interacting many-body problems, especially in the field of integrable models. So far there have been proposed several generalizations of the Girardeau’s finding, the most promi- nent of which was given by Cheon and Shigehara in 1998 [2]: they discovered the fermionic dual of the Lieb-Liniger model [3] by using the generalized pointlike interactions. -
Lesson 1: the Single Electron Atom: Hydrogen
Lesson 1: The Single Electron Atom: Hydrogen Irene K. Metz, Joseph W. Bennett, and Sara E. Mason (Dated: July 24, 2018) Learning Objectives: 1. Utilize quantum numbers and atomic radii information to create input files and run a single-electron calculation. 2. Learn how to read the log and report files to obtain atomic orbital information. 3. Plot the all-electron wavefunction to determine where the electron is likely to be posi- tioned relative to the nucleus. Before doing this exercise, be sure to read through the Ins and Outs of Operation document. So, what do we need to build an atom? Protons, neutrons, and electrons of course! But the mass of a proton is 1800 times greater than that of an electron. Therefore, based on de Broglie’s wave equation, the wavelength of an electron is larger when compared to that of a proton. In other words, the wave-like properties of an electron are important whereas we think of protons and neutrons as particle-like. The separation of the electron from the nucleus is called the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. So now we need the wave-like description of the Hydrogen electron. Hydrogen is the simplest atom on the periodic table and the most abundant element in the universe, and therefore the perfect starting point for atomic orbitals and energies. The compu- tational tool we are going to use is called OPIUM (silly name, right?). Before we get started, we should know what’s needed to create an input file, which OPIUM calls a parameter files. Each parameter file consist of a sequence of ”keyblocks”, containing sets of related parameters. -
The Casimir-Polder Effect and Quantum Friction Across Timescales Handelt Es Sich Um Meine Eigen- Ständig Erbrachte Leistung
THECASIMIR-POLDEREFFECT ANDQUANTUMFRICTION ACROSSTIMESCALES JULIANEKLATT Physikalisches Institut Fakultät für Mathematik und Physik Albert-Ludwigs-Universität THECASIMIR-POLDEREFFECTANDQUANTUMFRICTION ACROSSTIMESCALES DISSERTATION zu Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Fakultät für Mathematik und Physik Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg im Breisgau vorgelegt von Juliane Klatt 2017 DEKAN: Prof. Dr. Gregor Herten BETREUERDERARBEIT: Dr. Stefan Yoshi Buhmann GUTACHTER: Dr. Stefan Yoshi Buhmann Prof. Dr. Tanja Schilling TAGDERVERTEIDIGUNG: 11.07.2017 PRÜFER: Prof. Dr. Jens Timmer Apl. Prof. Dr. Bernd von Issendorff Dr. Stefan Yoshi Buhmann © 2017 Those years, when the Lamb shift was the central theme of physics, were golden years for all the physicists of my generation. You were the first to see that this tiny shift, so elusive and hard to measure, would clarify our thinking about particles and fields. — F. J. Dyson on occasion of the 65th birthday of W. E. Lamb, Jr. [54] Man kann sich darüber streiten, ob die Welt aus Atomen aufgebaut ist, oder aus Geschichten. — R. D. Precht [165] ABSTRACT The quantum vacuum is subject to continuous spontaneous creation and annihi- lation of matter and radiation. Consequently, an atom placed in vacuum is being perturbed through the interaction with such fluctuations. This results in the Lamb shift of atomic levels and spontaneous transitions between atomic states — the properties of the atom are being shaped by the vacuum. Hence, if the latter is be- ing shaped itself, then this reflects in the atomic features and dynamics. A prime example is the Casimir-Polder effect where a macroscopic body, introduced to the vacuum in which the atom resides, causes a position dependence of the Lamb shift.