Questions on zero-point energy

[Simpleton]

1.

Is it wrong to think of ZERO-POINT ENERGY as Particle-Waves, that have lost there energy, have reached there biggest size and lowest density.

2.

What age was the Universe, when zero-point energy became part of the Universe.

3.

As long as stars are shining, is zero-point energy increasing.

[GDG]

1.

Is it wrong to think of ZERO-POINT ENERGY as Particle-Waves, that have lost there energy, have reached there biggest size and lowest density.

2.

What age was the Universe, when zero-point energy became part of the Universe.

3.

As long as stars are shining, is zero-point energy increasing.

 

Zero point energy is the energy remaining when a system is in its lowest energy state. Also referred to as "vacuum energy". Not to be confused with the rest mass of a particle.

 

AFAIK, ZPE should have been a feature of the universe since its inception, although it probably would have been difficult to measure in the initial fireball.

 

I do not know of any physical theory that suggests that ZPE should change with time.

[Simpleton]

Zero point energy is the energy remaining when a system is in its lowest energy state. Also referred to as "vacuum energy". Not to be confused with the rest mass of a particle.

 

AFAIK, ZPE should have been a feature of the universe since its inception, although it probably would have been difficult to measure in the initial fireball.

 

I do not know of any physical theory that suggests that ZPE should change with time.

 

I, for some reason was certain that ZPE, when taken to the individual particle level was more-less one very, very, shallow wave representing one particle of some type, that is cruising around for so long that it is so stretched out that it almost is not there anymore as an individual wave. It must be still there, because it is both, a wave and a particle. It has been somehow calculated.

[swansont]

I, for some reason was certain that ZPE, when taken to the individual particle level was more-less one very, very, shallow wave representing one particle of some type, that is cruising around for so long that it is so stretched out that it almost is not there anymore as an individual wave. It must be still there, because it is both, a wave and a particle. It has been somehow calculated.

 

ZPE is infinite when you calculate it. It's an artifact of the QM calculation of the energy states for a harmonic oscillator: for each mode there is an energy of [math](n+\frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega[/math]

 

So even when there is no photon in that mode, there is an energy. And implications of this have been tested and confirmed.

[Simpleton]

First of all

I appreciate every and any answer, all replies and every bit of help I can get.. It is a given, that I am thankfull. I am somewhat as the name implies. To be able to be sure, that I ride things down in an hopefully understandable way, takes me so very long. I am constandly suffering from the uncertainty principle. It is not easy to find the right questions, that may ad something when there is a huge, intimidating Mountain of knowledge in front of you, that is full of Mathematician-Magicians.

 

Somewhere in the many articles and discussions on this subject it was said that "it" ZPE was increasing. If ? that is so, then I have to consider it possible that the questions are still valid, un answerd questions.