Free space
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In classical physics, free space, sometimes called the vacuum of free space, refers to a region of space where there is a theoretically "perfect" vacuum. It is a concept of electromagnetic theory. This concept is an abstraction from nature, a baseline or reference state that is unattainable in practice, like the absolute zero of temperature. The definitions of the ampere and meter SI units are based on measurements corrected to refer to free space. In the theory of quantum mechanics, the "quantum vacuum" is not entirely empty but contains electromagnetic waves and particles that pop in and out of existence. The differences between free space and the quantum vacuum are predicted to be very small.
Properties of free space
Free space is characterized by the defined value of the parameter μ0 known as the permeability of free space or the magnetic constant,[1] and the defined value of the parameter ε0 called the permittivity of free space or the electric constant.[2]
Maxwell viewed permeability as being a quantity related to density, and he viewed dielectric constant, the reciprocal of permittivity, as being a quantity related to transverse elasticity. He used these quantities in Newton's equation for the speed of sound to obtain a wave speed equal to the speed of light c0. This famous calculation concludes around equation (136) in Part III of his 1861 paper "On Physical Lines of Force" with the estimate that c0=195,647 miles per second. The logical status of the electric and magnetic constant in SI units has shifted, however, and the velocity of light is now a defined value, not a measured or observed value. See the related articles on meter, ampere (unit) and speed of light.[3][4] The parameter ε0 also enters the expression for the fine-structure constant usually denoted by α,[5] which characterizes the strength of the electromagnetic interaction.
In the reference state of free space, according to Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves and visible light (among other electromagnetic spectrum frequencies) propagate at the defined speed of light, c0.[6] According to the theory of special relativity, this speed is independent of the speed of the observer or of the source of the waves. The electric and magnetic fields in these waves are related by the defined value of the characteristic impedance of vacuum Z0.[7]
In addition, in this reference state, the principle of linear superposition of potentials and fields holds. For example, the electric potential generated by two charges is the simple addition of the potentials generated by each charge in isolation.[8]
What is the vacuum?
The ideal vacuum of free space is not the same as a physically obtainable vacuum. Physicists use the term "vacuum" in several ways. One use is to discuss ideal test results that would occur in a "perfect vacuum," which physicists simply call vacuum or free space in this context. Physicists use the term partial vacuum to refer to the imperfect vacuum realizable in practice. The term "partial vacuum" suggests a space where the pressure is low but not zero.
Quantum vacuum
Today, the classical concept of vacuum as a simple void has been replaced by the quantum vacuum, separating "free space" still further from the earlier concept of a perfect vacuum. Quantum vacuum or the vacuum state is not empty.[9] An approximate meaning is as follows:[10]
Quantum vacuum describes a region devoid of real particles in its lowest energy state.
Lambrecht[11] has noted that the quantum vacuum is "by no means a simple empty space," and Ray[12] has observed that "it is a mistake to think of any physical vacuum as some absolutely empty void."
According to quantum mechanics, empty space (the "vacuum") is not truly empty but instead contains fleeting electromagnetic waves and particles that pop in and out of existence.[13] One measurable result of these ephemeral occurrences is the Casimir effect.[14][15] Other examples are spontaneous emission[16][17][18] and the Lamb shift.[19] Related to these differences, quantum vacuum differs from free space in exhibiting nonlinearity in the presence of strong electric or magnetic fields (violation of linear superposition).
Even in classical physics, it was realized that the vacuum must have a field-dependent permittivity in the strong fields found near point charges.[20][21] These field-dependent properties of the quantum vacuum continue to be an active area of research.[22][23]
At present, even the meaning of the quantum vacuum state is not settled. For example, what constitutes a "particle" depends on the gravitational state of the observer.[24][25] Speculation abounds on the role of the quantum vacuum in an expanding universe. In addition, the quantum vacuum may exhibit spontaneous symmetry breaking.[26]
The discrepancies between free space and the quantum vacuum are predicted to be very small, and to date there is no suggestion that these uncertainties affect the use of SI units, the implementation of which is predicated on the undisputed predictions of quantum electrodynamics.[27]
In short, realization of the ideal of "free space" is not just a matter of achieving low pressure, as the term partial vacuum suggests. In fact, "free space" is an abstraction from nature, a baseline or reference state, that is unattainable in practice.[28]
Realization of free space in a laboratory
By "realization" is meant the reduction to practice, or experimental embodiment, of the term "free space," for example, a partial vacuum. What is the operational definition of free space? Although in principle free space is unattainable, like the absolute zero of temperature, the SI units are referred to free space, and so an estimate of the necessary correction to a real measurement is needed. An example might be a correction for non-zero pressure of a partial vacuum. Regarding measurements taken in a real environment (for example, partial vacuum) that are to be related to "free space," the CIPM cautions that:[29]
In all cases any necessary corrections be applied to take account of actual conditions such as diffraction, gravitation or imperfection in the vacuum.
In practice, a partial vacuum can be produced in the laboratory that is a very good realization of free space. Some of the issues involved in obtaining a high vacuum are described in the article on ultra high vacuum. The lowest measurable pressure today is about 10−11 Pa.[30] (The abbreviation Pa stands for the unit pascal, 1 pascal = 1 N/m2.)
Realization of free space in outer space
Although it is only a partial vacuum, outer space contains such sparse matter that the pressure of interstellar space is on the order of 10 pPa (1×10−11 Pa).[31] For comparison, the pressure at sea level (as defined in the unit of atmospheric pressure) is about 101 kPa (1×105 Pa). The gases in outer space are not uniformly distributed, of course. The density of hydrogen in our galaxy is estimated at 1 hydrogen atom/cm3.[32] In the partial vacuum of outer space, there are small quantities of matter (mostly hydrogen), cosmic dust and cosmic noise. See intergalactic space. In addition, there is a cosmic microwave background with a temperature of 2.725 K, which implies a photon density of about 400 /cm3.[33] (This background temperature depends upon the gravitational state of the observer. See Unruh effect.)
The density of the interplanetary medium and interstellar medium, though, is extremely low; for many applications negligible error is introduced by treating the interplanetary and interstellar regions as "free space."
U.S. Patent Office interpretation of free space
The United States Patent Office defines "free space" in a number of ways. For radio and radar applications the definition is "space where the movement of energy in any direction is substantially unimpeded, such as the atmosphere, the ocean, or the earth" (Glossary in US Patent Class 342, Class Notes).[34] This definition does not match the technical definitions of free space outlined above, which do not refer to a medium.
Another US Patent Office interpretation is Subclass 310: Communication over free space, where the definition is "a medium which is not a wire or a waveguide."[35] This definition bears little if any relation to other technical definitions of free space outlined above.
See also
- Electromagnetism
- Elementary particle
- Outer space
- Particle physics
- Speed of light
- SI units
- Vacuum
Notes
- ↑ NIST, magnetic constant. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ↑ NIST, electric constant. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ↑ J.C. Maxwell, On Physical Lines of Force, vacuum-physics.com. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ Gillespie (2008), 14.
- ↑ NIST, fine structure constant α. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ↑ NIST, speed of light in vacuum: c, c0. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ↑ NIST, impedance of vacuum: Z0. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ↑ Jackson (1999), 10, 13.
- ↑ Dittrich and Gies (2000).
- ↑ Kane (2000), Appendix A, 149 ff.
- ↑ Lambrecht (2002), 197.
- ↑ Ray (1991), 205.
- ↑ AIP, AIP Physics News Update. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ APS, Physical Review Focus Dec, focus.aps.org. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ F. Capasso, J.N. Munday, D. Iannuzzi, and H.B. Chen, 2007, Casimir forces and quantum electrodynamical torques: Physics and nanomechanics, Harvard University. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ Yokoyama, and Ujihara (1995), 6.
- ↑ Fain (2000), §4.4; 113ff.
- ↑ Scully and Zubairy (1997), §1.5.2; 22–23
- ↑ Scully, and Zubairy (1997), 13-16.
- ↑ M. Born and L. Infeld, Proc. Royal Soc. London A144 (1934):425.
- ↑ Jackson (1999), 10–12.
- ↑ A. Di Piazza, K. Z. Hatsagortsyan, and C. H. Keitel, 2006, Light diffraction by a strong standing electromagnetic wave, Phys. Rev. Lett.; Gies, Holger, Joerg Jaeckel, and Andreas Ringwald, 2006, Polarized light propagating in a magnetic field as a probe for millicharged fermions, Phys. Rev. Letts. 97. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ Saunders and Brown (1991) and Genz (2002).
- ↑ Fulling (1989), 259.
- ↑ Cao (1999), 179.
- ↑ Woit, 2006.
- ↑ Genz (2002), 247.
- ↑ Paulo N. Correa and Alexandra N. Correa, The Sagnac and Michelson-Gale-Pearson Experiments: The tribulations of general relativity with respect to rotation. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ NIST, CIPM adopted Recommendation 1 (CI-1983). physics.nist.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ Rozanov and Hablanian (2002), 80.
- ↑ MiMi Zheng, Pressure in Outer Space, The Physics Factbook. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ Wynn-Williams (1992), 38.
- ↑ Martin J. Rees, Origin of pregalactic microwave background, Nature 275: 35–37.
- ↑ USPTO, Classification Definitions, U.S. Patent Classification System, June 30, 2000. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- ↑ USPTO, Subclass 310: Communication over free space. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
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- Dittrich, Walter, and H. Gies. Probing the Quantum Vacuum: Perturbative Effective Action Approach. Berlin, DE: Springer, 2000. ISBN 3540674284.
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- Gillespie, Charles Coulston (ed.). Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Detroit, MI: Macmillan USA, 2008 (original 1981). ISBN 978-0684169668
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