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arXiv:1302.6165physics.gen-ph

The quantum vacuum as the origin of the speed of light

Marcel Urban, Francois Couchot, Xavier Sarazin, Arache Djannati-Atai

Abstract

We show that the vacuum permeability and permittivity may originate from the magnetization and the polarization of continuously appearing and disappearing fermion pairs. We then show that if we simply model the propagation of the photon in vacuum as a series of transient captures within these ephemeral pairs, we can derive a finite photon velocity. Requiring that this velocity is equal to the speed of light constrains our model of vacuum. Within this approach, the propagation of a photon is a statistical process at scales much larger than the Planck scale. Therefore we expect its time of flight to fluctuate. We propose an experimental test of this prediction.

arXiv comments
6 pages, Accepted for publication in European Physical Journal D. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1111.1847, arXiv:1106.3996
Journal reference
Eur. Phys. J. D, 67 3 (2013) 58
DOI
doi:10.1140/epjd/e2013-30578-7
Subjects
physics.gen-phGeneral Physics

On Hacker News

Linked by 3 identifiable commenters in 3 comments across 3 threads, from Mar 2013 to Apr 2016. Found in 2 HN submissions from Mar 2013 to Mar 2013. Open submission discussions.

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Discussed in comments3 threads

  1. Curious Link Between the Fly-By Anomaly and the “Impossible” EmDrive Thruster 1 comment

    • The hard part for physicists to accept is that the theory requires the speed of light to change. It would be interesting to see how the theory behind the Unruh radiation works with "The quantum vacuum as the origin of the speed of light" (http://arxiv.org/abs/1302.6165#) Or also…

      adekokView on HNParent context

  2. Why is light so fast? 1 comment

    • The article does ask this: "Why not faster? Why not slower?" Certainly a lot of physicists are content with leaving it at "because it is." They're not searching for purpose, they're searching for explanation. The article doesn't just ask the question either, it explores a…

      rrss1122View on HNParent context

  3. Speed of Light May Not Be Fixed, Scientists Suggest 1 comment

    • arXiv preprints at [0,1]. While interesting results, this is by no means groundbreaking work, and as long as we don’t understand the relation between gravity and quantum mechanics, it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding the sort-of-obvious FTL travel lurking here. [0]…

      claudiusView on HNParent context

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