Light Created from a Vacuum: Casimir Effect Observed in Superconducting Circuit Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011 @ 16:48:56 UTC Topic: Science
ScienceDaily (Nov. 18, 2011) — Scientists at Chalmers have succeeded in creating light from vacuum -- observing an effect first predicted over 40 years ago. In an innovative experiment, the scientists have managed to capture some of the photons that are constantly appearing and disappearing in the vacuum.
In the Chalmers scientists’ experiments, virtual photons bounce off a “mirror” that vibrates at a speed that is almost as high as the speed of light. The round mirror in the picture is a symbol, and under that is the quantum electronic component (referred to as a SQUID), which acts as a mirror. This makes real photons appear (in pairs) in vacuum. (Credit: Philip Krantz, Chalmers)
The results have been published in the journal Nature.
The experiment is based on one of the most counterintuitive, yet, one
of the most important principles in quantum mechanics: that vacuum is
by no means empty nothingness. In fact, the vacuum is full of various
particles that are continuously fluctuating in and out of existence.
They appear, exist for a brief moment and then disappear again. Since
their existence is so fleeting, they are usually referred to as virtual
particles...
In the Chalmers scientists’ experiments, virtual photons bounce off a “mirror” that vibrates at a speed that is almost as high as the speed of light. The round mirror in the picture is a symbol, and under that is the quantum electronic component (referred to as a SQUID), which acts as a mirror. This makes real photons appear (in pairs) in vacuum. (Credit: Philip Krantz, Chalmers)