Band gaps induced by vacuum photons in closed semiconductor cavities

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that vacuum photons in a closed semiconductor microcavity can induce measurable band gaps within the valence band due to virtual electron transitions, revealing a novel quantum electrodynamics effect.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of vacuum-induced band gaps in semiconductors caused by confined vacuum photonic modes, a new quantum electrodynamics phenomenon in solid-state systems.

Findings

Vacuum photons cause band gaps of sub-meV scale in semiconductors.

Vacuum-induced virtual electron transitions lead to energy spectrum renormalization.

The effect is measurable with current experimental techniques.

Abstract

We consider theoretically a closed (zero-dimensional) semiconductor microcavity where confined vacuum photonic mode is coupled to electrons in valence band of the semiconductor. It is shown that vacuum-induced virtual electron transitions between valence and conduction bands result in renormalization of electron energy spectrum. As a consequence, vacuum-induced band gaps appear within the valence band. Calculated values of the band gaps are of sub-meV scale, that makes this QED effect to be measurable in state-of-the-art experiments.