Dark Energy Content of Nonlinear Electromagnetism

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonlinear electromagnetic fields, especially quantum and classical types, can produce effects similar to dark energy by analyzing their energy-momentum tensors through theoretical and numerical methods.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive theoretical and numerical analysis of the energy-momentum tensor in nonlinear electromagnetism, comparing quantum Euler-Heisenberg and classical Born-Infeld models.

Findings

Nonlinear electromagnetic fields can mimic dark energy effects.

Quantum and classical nonlinearities exhibit distinct energy-momentum properties.

Strong background fields modify charged particle kinematics.

Abstract

Quasi-constant external fields in nonlinear electromagnetism generate a contribution to the energy-momentum tensor with the form of dark energy. To provide a thorough understanding of the origin and strength of the effects, we undertake a complete theoretical and numerical study of the energy-momentum tensor $T^{\mu\nu}$ for nonlinear electromagnetism. The Euler-Heisenberg nonlinearity due to quantum fluctuations of spinor and scalar matter fields is considered and contrasted with the properties of classical nonlinear Born-Infeld electromagnetism. We also address modifications of charged particle kinematics by strong background fields.