How many electron positron pairs are created

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of virtual particles and their existence in a vacuum. It is mentioned that the idea of a "sea of particles constantly popping in and out of existence" is a misconception and that the vacuum state is actually stable with no particles popping in and out. The term "vacuum fluctuation" refers to uncertainty and not variation with time.
  • #1
Admiller
5
0
How many electron positron pairs are created every second in a cubic meter of vacuum?
 
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  • #2
Zero.
 
  • #3
Don't these virtual partials pop in and out of existence in a vacuum?
 
  • #4
Admiller said:
Don't these virtual partials pop in and out of existence in a vacuum?
Google "quantum foam" and you'll see the speculative nature of that theory.
 
  • #5
Quantum foam does seem very speculative but aren't these particle antiparticle pairs responsible for vacuum fluctuations?
 
  • #6
The short answer is that you've been lied to. No theory describes the vacuum as that "sea of particles constantly popping into and out of existence" that popsci authors (and some overly romantic actual-sci ones) seem to like so much.
 
  • #8
The vacuum state, by definition, is the one state in QFT which is absolutely stable, and nothing pops in and out of existence, because it's the ground state, the state of lowest energy. If there's no energy above the ground state there's nothing excited which could pop out of existence again nor can there be anything pop into existence spontaneously, because energy is conserved.
 
  • #9
In normal language, the word "fluctuation" means "variation with time". In QM language, it's more like a synonym for "uncertainty" or "indefiniteness." Vacuum fluctuation does not involve variation with time.
 

1. How is the number of electron positron pairs created determined?

The number of electron positron pairs created is determined by the energy of the incident particle or photon. The higher the energy, the more pairs will be created.

2. What is the process of creating electron positron pairs?

The process of creating electron positron pairs is known as pair production. It occurs when a high-energy photon interacts with a nucleus, producing an electron and a positron.

3. Can electron positron pairs be created in a vacuum?

Yes, electron positron pairs can be created in a vacuum through the process of pair production. This phenomenon is also known as vacuum polarization.

4. How does the creation of electron positron pairs relate to quantum mechanics?

The creation of electron positron pairs is a phenomenon that can only be explained by quantum mechanics. It involves the conversion of energy into matter, which is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.

5. How is the creation of electron positron pairs used in practical applications?

The creation of electron positron pairs can be used in various practical applications, such as in particle accelerators and medical imaging techniques. It is also a crucial process in understanding the early universe and high-energy cosmic rays.

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