In a groundbreaking development, researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Lisbon have simulated in three dimensions and real-time how the quantum vacuum can generate light. This discovery, published in Communications Physics, marks a significant step towards understanding the fundamental nature of space and energy.
The team's work focuses on the interaction of four waves in the quantum vacuum. Specifically, they demonstrated that under specific conditions, three laser beams can generate a fourth electromagnetic wave, effectively creating light from the seemingly empty space. This phenomenon, predicted theoretically, has now been modeled computationally with unprecedented resolution.
The simulation, using an expanded version of the OSIRIS code, incorporates non-linear equations derived from the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian. This allows the researchers to model the behavior of electric and magnetic fields under extreme conditions. The simulation not only calculates the final result but also allows for a step-by-step observation of the light pulse formation in real-time.
Unlike previous models, this simulation integrates realistic laser profiles, including width, duration, and angle of incidence. This detailed approach provides a basis for preparing real-world experiments at facilities like the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) in Europe and the Vulcan 20-20 project in the UK. The generated pulse propagates at nearly the speed of light, confirming its behavior as a photon.
This research could also aid in the search for hypothetical particles, such as axions, which are potential components of dark matter. The ability to induce effects in the quantum vacuum opens up new avenues for exploring territories beyond traditional particle physics. The simulation offers valuable data for experimental design, including the exact duration, arrival time, and maximum intensity of the generated pulse.
This advancement comes as a new generation of ultra-intense lasers becomes operational. Facilities like ELI, SEL in China, and the OPAL system in the United States will soon have the power needed to reproduce the simulated conditions. This marks a shift from blind experimentation to a roadmap indicating how, when, and where light can emerge from the vacuum.
This work underscores the idea that the vacuum is not just a backdrop but a dynamic actor with its own properties. The ability to create light from the vacuum using only light forces us to rethink fundamental concepts of energy, matter, and space, representing a step toward a new experimental physics of the invisible.