The energetics of quantum vacuum friction: field fluctuations
The energetics of quantum vacuum friction: field fluctuations
Quantum fluctuations can induce a friction on a neutral but polarizable particle and cause it to radiate energy even if the particle is moving in free space filled with blackbody radiation, and is not in contact with or close to any surface or other object. We explore the energetics of such a particle moving uniformly in vacuum, continuing our previous investigations of quantum friction. The intrinsic polarizability of the particle is considered to be purely real before it is dressed by radiation. The particle is then guaranteed to be in the nonequilibrium steady state (NESS), where it absorbs and emits energy at the same rate. We first calculate the quantum frictional powerand force on the particle in the rest frame of the blackbody radiation from first principles, namely the Maxwell-Heaviside equations and the Lorentz force law. Then we provide a simpler method of obtaining the same quantities in the rest frame of the particle by using the principle of virtual work. The equivalence of the two approaches is illustrated. The formulas we derive for quantum vacuum frictional power and force are fully relativistic and applicable to finite temperature. In NESS, the quantum vacuum frictional force on the particle is shown to be a true drag, independent of the model for polarizability and the polarization state of the particle. Finally, we give an estimate of the quantum vacuum friction on a gold atom and comment on the feasibility of detecting such quantum vacuum frictional effects.
Guo, Xin
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Milton, Kimball A.
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Kennedy, Gerard
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McNulty, William P.
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Pourtolami, Nima
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Li, Yang
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8 December 2021
Guo, Xin
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Milton, Kimball A.
32b2e838-92a4-4f2d-a33d-ab54ddaf8e08
Kennedy, Gerard
47b61664-2d2d-45fa-a73a-5af7a7c740cd
McNulty, William P.
ed3757f1-d7cd-46d9-835c-aa70fbb69faa
Pourtolami, Nima
b43c7cb9-06b9-4dde-ba1a-8936230f6d04
Li, Yang
4f067119-66c6-48c9-8da6-408037692d76
Guo, Xin, Milton, Kimball A., Kennedy, Gerard, McNulty, William P., Pourtolami, Nima and Li, Yang
(2021)
The energetics of quantum vacuum friction: field fluctuations.
Physical Review D, 104.
(doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.104.116006).
Abstract
Quantum fluctuations can induce a friction on a neutral but polarizable particle and cause it to radiate energy even if the particle is moving in free space filled with blackbody radiation, and is not in contact with or close to any surface or other object. We explore the energetics of such a particle moving uniformly in vacuum, continuing our previous investigations of quantum friction. The intrinsic polarizability of the particle is considered to be purely real before it is dressed by radiation. The particle is then guaranteed to be in the nonequilibrium steady state (NESS), where it absorbs and emits energy at the same rate. We first calculate the quantum frictional powerand force on the particle in the rest frame of the blackbody radiation from first principles, namely the Maxwell-Heaviside equations and the Lorentz force law. Then we provide a simpler method of obtaining the same quantities in the rest frame of the particle by using the principle of virtual work. The equivalence of the two approaches is illustrated. The formulas we derive for quantum vacuum frictional power and force are fully relativistic and applicable to finite temperature. In NESS, the quantum vacuum frictional force on the particle is shown to be a true drag, independent of the model for polarizability and the polarization state of the particle. Finally, we give an estimate of the quantum vacuum friction on a gold atom and comment on the feasibility of detecting such quantum vacuum frictional effects.
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Accepted/In Press date: 27 September 2021
Published date: 8 December 2021
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 451794
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/451794
ISSN: 1550-7998
PURE UUID: f1950605-9202-4b56-9787-ab11570b0018
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Date deposited: 27 Oct 2021 16:32
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:59
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Author:
Xin Guo
Author:
Kimball A. Milton
Author:
William P. McNulty
Author:
Nima Pourtolami
Author:
Yang Li
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