Zero Point Energy: Is it Present in Cavity Only?

[wasi-uz-zaman]

hi, i have studied zero point energy as hf/2 , my question- is it present in cavity only? what is the value of f , does this value change with different atom-cavity system?
thanks

 

[ShayanJ]

Hi
Its strange that you're talking about a cavity, because hf/2 is actually the zero point energy of a quantum harmonic oscillator with frequency f. Its not a general formula for all quantum systems.
If you want to calculate such a thing for an atom, you should have a model to somehow treat that atom as a harmonic oscillator and depending on that model, f will be different. But I think such a model is only a rough approximation of things.

 

[wasi-uz-zaman]

it means each mode of radiation field is linked with harmonic oscillator