Vacuum energy length scale detectable by the Casimir effect?

In summary, Sean Carroll's research shows that cosmological observations suggest the vacuum energy density is limited to a maximum value of (10^-12 GeV)^4. This implies that the minimum length scale for quantum fields in the vacuum is approximately 1 millimeter. However, this does not mean that dark energy, also known as the cosmological constant, is the same as Casimir energy. Therefore, Casimir effect-type experiments cannot detect this millimeter cutoff length in the vacuum.
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jcap
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According to Sean Carroll's The Cosmological constant(https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0004075.pdf) (Eqn.20) cosmological observations imply that the magnitude of the vacuum energy density in natural units is given by
$$|\rho^{(obs)}_\Lambda|\le (10^{-12}\ \rm{GeV})^4.$$
Does this imply that the minimum length scale of the zero-point normal modes of quantum fields in the vacuum are of the order of ##\lambda \sim (\rm{meV})^{-1}\sim \rm{mm}## ?

If this is true then would this millimeter cutoff length be detectable by Casimir effect-type experiments?
 
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  • #3
jcap said:
If this is true then would this millimeter cutoff length be detectable by Casimir effect-type experiments?

No. Because the Casimir effect can be explained without any recourse to the vacuum, it cannot tell us anything ebout the vacuum.
 
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1. What is vacuum energy length scale?

Vacuum energy length scale refers to the distance at which the effects of vacuum energy, also known as zero-point energy, can be detected. It is the length scale at which the Casimir effect, a manifestation of vacuum energy, becomes noticeable.

2. How is the vacuum energy length scale related to the Casimir effect?

The Casimir effect is a physical phenomenon that arises due to the presence of vacuum energy. The strength of the Casimir effect is directly proportional to the vacuum energy length scale, meaning that the larger the length scale, the stronger the effect will be.

3. How is the vacuum energy length scale determined?

The vacuum energy length scale is determined by the geometry and material properties of the system in which the Casimir effect is being observed. It is also influenced by the temperature and distance between the objects involved.

4. Can the vacuum energy length scale be measured?

Yes, the vacuum energy length scale can be measured through experiments that observe the Casimir effect. By varying the distance between the objects and measuring the resulting force, the vacuum energy length scale can be calculated.

5. What is the significance of the vacuum energy length scale?

The vacuum energy length scale is significant because it provides insight into the behavior of vacuum energy, which is a fundamental aspect of quantum field theory. It also has implications for understanding the nature of space, time, and the physical properties of the universe.

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