What Is the Nature of Vacuum and Empty Space?

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The discussion centers on the concept of "space - vacuum" and the ongoing quest to understand what constitutes empty space. Participants express skepticism about the existence of pure vacuum, noting that even in intergalactic space, atoms and quantum fluctuations persist. The idea that vacuum has an energy density is explored, suggesting that vacuum might be the minimum energy necessary for space and fields. The conversation also touches on the implications of vacuum energy for potential future technologies, such as engines that could harness this energy. Ultimately, the complexities of defining vacuum and its properties remain a topic of intrigue and debate.
iyalcin
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Hi everybody,
I am new to this site. And for this first time I want to ask your thoughts about "space - vacuum". Does anybody have any interest in this area. I mean, the question "what is empty space?" is always there and as far as I know not a complete and satisfactory answer has arosen for this subject.
 
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There isn't one yet. That's what all the study into string, superstring, membrane, pizza, etc. theories is about. (Okay, I made up that last one.)
 
Given that vacuum has a given energy density, or so I've heard, one might conjecture that vacuum is the minimum density of energy necessary to have space, magnetic & eletric & gravitational fields being composed of denser energy, matter being even denser, and zero energy being no space at all.
Perhaps one day we may make an engine that travels a given distance by using the energy in the vacuum thus eliminating space. :smile:
 
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but...okay, are we talking about vacuum as in what's around galaxies etc, or pure vacuum?

as far as i can tell from knowledge and guessings pure vacuum does not exist. Space vacuum temperature is about 7degrees kelvin...but if pure vacuum existed it would be absolute zero...meaning particles would have a motion equal to zero and their energy would equal zero. this means...space would still be there, but not the way we'd think.

maybe since particles do NOTHING the process of time passing will no longuer affect them, in a way slowing time for anything reaching this condition of no movement, no reaction, no energy on nothing. Maybe. i don't know.
 
Primarily, this depends upon what you consider 'vacuum'. Intergalactic space is probably as close as you can get to the real thing, but even then you'll run into an atom now and again. And even where there is absolutely no matter present, you still have quantum fluctuations so that there are virtual particles occupying the space.
 
As far as I know, vacuums are constantly brimming with virtual particles
 
Is it possible to exclude virtual particles from a vacuum location?
 
I don't think so. Uncle Werner would object.
 

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