A Fundamental Lower Bound of Actuating Energy for Broadband Photon Switching

TL;DR

This paper establishes a fundamental lower limit on the energy required for broadband photon switching, linking it to quantum uncertainty principles and providing a universal bound applicable to various switching scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a universal lower bound on actuating energy for broadband photon switching derived from quantum uncertainty relations.

Findings

The lower bound is given by E_s ≥ ħ / (6π t_s).

The bound applies universally to broadband photon switching.

The result connects quantum field properties with practical switching energy limits.

Abstract

We derive a universal lower bound of actuating energy $E_{s}$ for broadband photon switching by using an uncertainty relation between time and the negative energy density of quantum fields. We find that broadband photon switching between perfect reflection and perfect transmission over a time $t_s$ should satisfy $E_{s}\geq\frac{\hbar}{6\pi t_s}$.