Probing the Abyss of the Quantum Vacuum: A Quest for Fluctuation-Free Domains

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2504.11764v1
• Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2025 04:59:14 GMT
• Title: Probing the Abyss of the Quantum Vacuum: A Quest for Fluctuation-Free Domains
• Abstract summary: We present a novel approach to indirectly probe the spatial distribution of vacuum fluctuations by leveraging radio-frequency (RF) measurements of thermal noise.<n>We infer the corresponding modification of vacuum modes and, consequently, the vacuum fluctuations themselves.<n>This work establishes a new experimental framework for investigating QED effects in constrained environments.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Abstract: The modification of electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations by boundary conditions is a fundamental prediction of quantum electrodynamics (QED). However, direct experimental verification in the optical regime is hindered by the need for sub-wavelength spatial resolution. Here, we present a novel approach to indirectly probe the spatial distribution of vacuum fluctuations by leveraging radio-frequency (RF) measurements of thermal noise. At RF frequencies, thermal noise, which occupies the same electromagnetic modes as vacuum fluctuations and is similarly shaped by boundary conditions, dominates the single-photon energy. By precisely characterizing the spatial distribution of thermal noise near a conducting boundary, we infer the corresponding modification of vacuum modes and, consequently, the vacuum fluctuations themselves. Our experimental setup, employing coaxial cables and RF splitters to mimic optical mirrors and beam splitters, enables controlled manipulation of boundary conditions and precise thermal noise measurements. We observe a reduction in thermal noise near the conducting boundary, providing indirect evidence for the theoretically predicted suppression of vacuum fluctuations. This work establishes a new experimental framework for investigating QED effects in constrained environments, with potential implications for quantum-limited precision measurements, such as gravitational wave detection and intensity-stabilized light sources. This RF approach circumvents the limitations of optical techniques and opens new avenues for exploring fundamental quantum phenomena.

Related papers

• Imaging the vacuum fluctuations of a quantum field [42.533595413559105]
  We directly observe spatial vacuum fluctuations of a bosonic quantum field.<n>Our experiments are based on a homogeneous planar atomic Bose-Einstein condensate.<n>Images of the field reveal simultaneous fluctuations on different length scales, with scale-dependent amplitudes consistent with theoretical predictions for a vacuum state.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-08-20T17:49:29Z)
• Lattice quantum electrodynamics of a molecular emitter in a topological gap [27.457087137824697]
  We introduce an optical lattice QED platform based on individual dibenzoterrylene molecules embedded in anthracene crystals.<n>We observe emitter-photon bound states formed when the optical transition of a single molecule is tuned to the band gap of a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger cavity lattice.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-07-22T14:50:09Z)
• Dissipative Effects in Transmission Line Analogues of Hawking Radiation [41.99844472131922]
  Circuit quantum electrodynamics provides a platform for realizing analogue systems where Hawking-like radiation may be studied.<n>We analyze two superconducting-circuit analogues of Schwarzschild black holes: a tunable dc-SQUID transmission line and a SNAIL-based transmission line supporting solitonic solutions of the KdV equation.<n>Our analysis establishes practical detectability thresholds and shows that Hawking temperatures above approximately 73 mK remain distinguishable under realistic experimental conditions.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-06-26T18:01:59Z)
• Control of nonlinear Compton scattering in a squeezed vacuum [0.0]
  We introduce a quantum-optical framework for controlling the emission of radiation of an electron in an intense laser field via squeezed vacuum states.<n>By engineering the quantum fluctuations of the emission modes, we demonstrate that the probability of nonlinear Compton scattering can be significantly enhanced or suppressed.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-12T19:37:06Z)
• The Darkfield Approach to Measuring Vacuum Birefringence and Light-by-Light Couplings -- A Proof-of-Principle Experiment [47.269836510794505]
  nonlinear vacuum response is very small even when probing a tightly focused high-intensity laser field with XFEL radiation.<n>We present the results of a proof-of-principle experiment validating this approach at the High Energy Density scientific instrument of the European X-Ray Free Electron Laser.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-06-13T10:23:55Z)
• Thermal spectrometer for superconducting circuits [38.00453341685376]
  Superconducting circuits provide a versatile and controllable platform for studies of quantum phenomena.<n>A conventional technique to read out the state of a quantum circuit or to characterize its properties is based on RF measurement schemes.<n>Here we demonstrate a simple DC measurement of a thermal spectrometer to investigate properties of a superconducting circuit.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-09-20T11:30:59Z)
• Sensing atomic superfluid rotation beyond the standard quantum limit [9.168807394388612]
  Atomic superfluids formed using Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in a ring trap are being investigated in the context of superfluid hydrodynamics, quantum sensing and matter-wave interferometry. Recent studies have proposed coupling the ring BEC to optical cavity modes carrying orbital angular momentum to make minimally destructive measurements of the condensate rotation. We present a detailed theoretical analysis to demonstrate that the use of squeezed light and backaction evasion techniques allows the angular momentum of the condensate to be sensed with noise well below the standard quantum limit.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-02-29T13:00:30Z)
• Hyper-entanglement between pulse modes and frequency bins [101.18253437732933]
  Hyper-entanglement between two or more photonic degrees of freedom (DOF) can enhance and enable new quantum protocols. We demonstrate the generation of photon pairs hyper-entangled between pulse modes and frequency bins.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-04-24T15:43:08Z)
• Cloaking a qubit in a cavity [36.136619420474766]
  Cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) uses a cavity to engineer the mode structure of the vacuum electromagnetic field. Controllably decoupling a qubit from the cavity's photon population, effectively cloaking the qubit from the cavity. Experiment demonstrates how qubit cloaking can be exploited to cancel ac-Stark shift and measurement-induced dephasing.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-11-10T18:45:03Z)
• Incandescent temporal metamaterials [0.0]
  Time-varying media can be seized to control and manipulate wave phenomena. Time-modulation releases strong field fluctuations confined within epsilon-near-zero bodies. It enables a narrowband (partially coherent) emission spanning the whole range of wavevectors.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-10-11T16:00:00Z)
• Probing the symmetry breaking of a light--matter system by an ancillary qubit [50.591267188664666]
  Hybrid quantum systems in the ultrastrong, and even more in the deep-strong, coupling regimes can exhibit exotic physical phenomena. We experimentally observe the parity symmetry breaking of an ancillary Xmon artificial atom induced by the field of a lumped-element superconducting resonator. This result opens a way to experimentally explore the novel quantum-vacuum effects emerging in the deep-strong coupling regime.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-09-13T06:14:08Z)
• Ultrafast modulation of vibrational polaritons for controlling the quantum field statistics at mid-infrared frequencies [0.0]
  We show that by coupling molecular vibrations with a confined mid-infrared cavity vacuum, the photocount and quadrature field statistics of the cavity field can be reversibly manipulated over sub-picosecond timescales. This work paves the way for the development of molecule-based mid-infrared quantum optical devices at room temperature.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-11-12T14:06:58Z)
• Dissipative Quantum Feedback in Measurements Using a Parametrically Coupled Microcavity [0.0]
  Micro- and nanoscale optical or microwave cavities are used in a wide range of classical applications and quantum science experiments. Dissipative photon absorption can result in quantum feedback via in-loop field detection of the absorbed optical field. We experimentally observe such unanticipated dissipative dynamics in optomechanical spectroscopy of sideband-cooled optomechanical crystal cavities.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-09-29T15:12:45Z)
• Probing the Purcell effect without radiative decay: Lessons in the frequency and time domains [0.0]
  We show how one can directly study the Purcell effect, i.e. the changes induced by cavities upon the quantum vacuum. This forges a link between electro-optic sampling of the quantum vacuum and geometry-induced vacuum effects.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-07-06T14:38:35Z)
• Spacetime effects on wavepackets of coherent light [24.587462517914865]
  We introduce an operational way to distinguish between the overall shift in the pulse wavepacket and its genuine deformation after propagation. We then apply our technique to quantum states of photons that are coherent in the frequency degree of freedom. We find that the quantum coherence initially present can enhance the deformation induced by propagation in a curved background.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-06-23T14:20:19Z)
• Tunable Anderson Localization of Dark States [146.2730735143614]
  We experimentally study Anderson localization in a superconducting waveguide quantum electrodynamics system. We observe an exponential suppression of the transmission coefficient in the vicinity of its subradiant dark modes. The experiment opens the door to the study of various localization phenomena on a new platform.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-05-25T07:52:52Z)
• Realizing an Unruh-DeWitt detector through electro-optic sampling of the electromagnetic vacuum [0.0]
  We present a new theoretical framework to describe the experimental advances in electro-optic detection of broadband quantum states. We discuss the specific working regime of such processes, and the consequences through characterization of the quantum light involved in the detection.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-03-26T10:04:07Z)
• Quantum sensitivity limits of nuclear magnetic resonance experiments searching for new fundamental physics [91.6474995587871]
  Nuclear magnetic resonance is a promising experimental approach to search for ultra-light axion-like dark matter. We consider a circuit model of a magnetic resonance experiment and quantify three noise sources: spin-projection noise, thermal noise, and amplifier noise.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-03-10T19:00:02Z)
• Probing eigenstate thermalization in quantum simulators via fluctuation-dissipation relations [77.34726150561087]
  The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) offers a universal mechanism for the approach to equilibrium of closed quantum many-body systems. Here, we propose a theory-independent route to probe the full ETH in quantum simulators by observing the emergence of fluctuation-dissipation relations. Our work presents a theory-independent way to characterize thermalization in quantum simulators and paves the way to quantum simulate condensed matter pump-probe experiments.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-07-20T18:00:02Z)
• Thermal intermodulation noise in cavity-based measurements [0.0]
  We show that nonlinearly transduced thermal fluctuations of cavity frequency can dominate the broadband noise in photodetection. We report and characterize thermal intermodulation noise in an optomechanical cavity, where the frequency fluctuations are caused by mechanical Brownian motion.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-04-12T21:24:23Z)
• Theory of waveguide-QED with moving emitters [68.8204255655161]
  We study a system composed by a waveguide and a moving quantum emitter in the single excitation subspace. We first characterize single-photon scattering off a single moving quantum emitter, showing both nonreciprocal transmission and recoil-induced reduction of the quantum emitter motional energy.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-03-20T12:14:10Z)
• Zero-point excitation of a circularly moving detector in an atomic condensate and phonon laser dynamical instabilities [0.0]
  We study a circularly moving impurity in an atomic condensate for realisation of superradiance phenomena in tabletop experiments. For sufficiently large rotation speeds, the zero-point fluctuations of the phonon field induce a sizeable excitation rate of the detector.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-01-23T16:36:14Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.