Is there a formula for such a thing?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of vacuum polarization and its effects on measuring the charge of a nucleus placed in a vacuum state. The concept of the vacuum polarization tensor is mentioned, which explains how virtual electron-positron pairs can behave like dipoles and screen a charge. Another question is raised about whether a real photon can have self energy and the response mentions the use of perturbation theory and the possibility of a photon temporarily converting into an electron-positron pair.
  • #1
Kruger
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Imagine following situation:

The whole space is in vacuum state.
We place in this space a nucleus with some charge X.
Now, there are everywhere vacuum fluctuations and thus the charge we measure near this nucleus is smaller than its effective charge (vacuum polarisation). Now, how big is this polarisation? I mean is there a formula we can calculate the charge we measure with a distance R apart from nucleus if the effective charge X of the nucleus is given?
 
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  • #2
Kruger said:
Imagine following situation:

The whole space is in vacuum state.
We place in this space a nucleus with some charge X.
Now, there are everywhere vacuum fluctuations and thus the charge we measure near this nucleus is smaller than its effective charge (vacuum polarisation). Now, how big is this polarisation? I mean is there a formula we can calculate the charge we measure with a distance R apart from nucleus if the effective charge X of the nucleus is given?

If you are talking about how the physical vacuum influences real time interactions, than "vacuum polarization tensor" is the concept to look for. This tensor expresses the fact that if you replace the vacuum by a dielectric (this is the Dirac-virtual particle sea) that is built out of virtual electron positron pairs, these pairs will behave like ordinary dipoles if you introduce a charge. Plus, this charge will also get screened ofcourse.

regards
marlon
 
  • #3
Another question:
Can a real photon have self energy? In the case of self energy a photon could split in an electron and a positron. But this is not possible. If this creation wants to be possible there most be energy taken from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. But if so, the created electron and positron would not be real. So we would have a real photon at beginning and an intermediate state where all particles are virtual and then a final state where all particles (the photon) are real. Can't we then measure the e- and e+ created by the self energy of the real photon?
 
  • #4
Kruger said:
Another question:
Can a real photon have self energy?

I do not understand this question. I mean, self energy is a purely QM effect that arises when there is some interaction between particles is going on. Keep in mind that self energy arises because of perturbationtheory, which is used for describing interactions. Yes a photon can interact with the Dirac sea (that is what the polarizationtensor is used for) and yes a photon can be converted (temporarily) into a electron-positron pair. I refer to the Feynman diagrams on http://www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-852913-9.pdf

But keep in mind that we are looking at the interaction between a photon,positron and an electron.

marlon
 
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Yes, there is a formula known as the Universal Law of Gravitation, which was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton. It states that the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

3. Is there a formula for determining the speed of light?

Yes, the speed of light is determined by a formula known as the Einstein equation, which states that the speed of light (c) equals the product of the mass (m) and the square of the speed of light (c) divided by the square of the speed of light (c).

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