Quantum Ground States as Equilibrium Particle-Vacuum Interaction States

TL;DR

This paper explains why atomic ground states are radiationless by proposing a dynamic equilibrium between emission and vacuum absorption, revealing a fundamental principle underlying quantum ground states.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation for radiationless ground states based on particle-vacuum interactions establishing a dynamic equilibrium.

Findings

Ground states are radiationless due to equilibrium with vacuum fluctuations

Particle-vacuum interactions prevent net radiation emission in ground states

The principle constrains the nature of quantum ground states

Abstract

A remarkable feature of atomic ground states is that they are observed to be radiationless in nature, despite (from a classical viewpoint) typically involving charged particles in accelerated motions. The simple hydrogen atom is a case in point. This universal groundstate characteristic is shown to derive from particle-vacuum interactions in which a dynamic equilibrium is established between radiation emission due to particle acceleration, and compensatory absorption from the zero-point fluctuations of the vacuum electromagnetic field. The result is a net radiationless ground state. This principle constitutes an overarching constraint that delineates an important feature of quantum ground states.