Scientists at Chalmers have succeeded in creating light from vacuum --
observing an effect first predicted over 40 years ago. In an innovative
experiment, the scientists have managed to capture some of the photons
that are constantly appearing and disappearing in the vacuum.
The experiment is based on one of the most counterintuitive, yet, one
of the most important principles in quantum mechanics: that vacuum is
by no means empty nothingness. In fact, the vacuum is full of various
particles that are continuously fluctuating in and out of existence.
They appear, exist for a brief moment and then disappear again. Since
their existence is so fleeting, they are usually referred to as virtual
particles.
Chalmers scientist, Christopher Wilson and his co-workers have
succeeded in getting photons to leave their virtual state and become
real photons, i.e. measurable light. The physicist Moore predicted way
back in 1970 that this should happen if the virtual photons are allowed
to bounce off a mirror that is moving at a speed that is almost as high
as the speed of light. The phenomenon, known as the dynamical Casimir
effect, has now been observed for the first time in a brilliant
experiment conducted by the Chalmers scientistsFor more details Click here
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