- #1
KurtLudwig
Gold Member
- 144
- 30
- TL;DR Summary
- Please explain what a false vacuum is.
Is it a chamber with almost all gases removed? Why is the energy level higher than a true vacuum?
Please first give a reference that shows the context in which you encountered the term. I could guess what I think the context is, but you should not be forcing people to guess.KurtLudwig said:TL;DR Summary: Please explain what a false vacuum is.
This is a pop science book. You would be better served by reading actual textbooks or peer-reviewed papers.KurtLudwig said:a book by professor Katie Mack "The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)
Did you come across this page:KurtLudwig said:I did look up on Wikipedia
No.KurtLudwig said:Is False Vacuum a chamber evacuated with almost no molecules of gases?
Yes. It occurs in two main contexts: first, inflation theory (in which the universe during inflation is in a false vacuum state), and second, speculative hypotheses about what might happen to our present universe in the future (involving the speculation that our current universe is in a "false vacuum" state).KurtLudwig said:Is it a concept in quantum physics?
All of these questions really should be answered by looking at a specific example. I would recommend reading papers about inflation theory first.KurtLudwig said:Why is an there energy level difference between a false and true vacuum? How do physicists know how the field value changes? I read somewhere that space is never totally empty do to quantum fluctuations. Why would the laws of the Universe change if it did happen?
Not just the Wikipedia article itself but the references, at least some of which are actual peer-reviewed papers.KurtLudwig said:I will go back to Wikipedia to read False vacuum decay.
It is an I-level tag thread, I think reading the actual papers is beyond what an undergrad can cope.PeterDonis said:Not just the Wikipedia article itself but the references, at least some of which are actual peer-reviewed papers.
The subject itself is more suitable to an "A" level discussion. Looking at the actual papers will at least give the OP a start towards that level of understanding, if desired.malawi_glenn said:It is an I-level tag thread, I think reading the actual papers is beyond what an undergrad can cope.
Moderator's note: The subthread on this topic might get spun off into a separate thread.PeterDonis said:the general topic of why PF's policy regarding pop science sources is what it is
And now it has:PeterDonis said:Moderator's note: The subthread on this topic might get spun off into a separate thread.
A false vacuum is a hypothetical state of the universe where the energy level is not at its lowest possible state. It is a temporary, unstable state that can eventually transition to a lower energy state, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
A true vacuum is a state where the energy level is at its lowest possible state, while a false vacuum is a higher energy state that is not stable. In a true vacuum, there is no potential for further energy release, while a false vacuum can transition to a lower energy state.
A false vacuum is characterized by its high energy state and instability. It is also believed to have a large amount of potential energy that can be released during a transition to a lower energy state.
Inflation is a theory that explains the rapid expansion of the universe in its early stages. It is believed that this expansion was caused by a false vacuum state, which eventually transitioned to a lower energy state, releasing a large amount of energy and causing the expansion.
If a false vacuum transition were to occur, it could release a large amount of energy, potentially causing drastic changes in the universe. It could also lead to the formation of new particles and structures, altering the fundamental laws of physics.