Quantum field theory and classical optics: determining the fine structure constant

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum vacuum properties relate to classical optics and demonstrates that deriving vacuum permittivity from quantum principles can lead to the fundamental fine structure constant.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach linking quantum vacuum characteristics to classical electromagnetic parameters, deriving the fine structure constant from quantum vacuum properties.

Findings

Derived the vacuum permittivity from quantum vacuum properties.

Connected the quantum vacuum response to classical electromagnetic constants.

Proposed a method to determine the fine structure constant from quantum principles.

Abstract

The properties of the vacuum are described by quantum physics including the response to external fields such as electromagnetic radiation. Of the two parameters that govern the details of the electromagnetic field dynamics in vacuum, one is fixed by the requirement of Lorentz invariance $c= 1/\sqrt{\varepsilon_{0} \mu_{0}}$. The other one, $Z_{0}= \sqrt{\mu_{0}/\varepsilon_{0}} = 1/(c\varepsilon_{0})$ and its relation to the quantum vacuum, is discussed in this contribution. Deriving $\varepsilon_{0}$ from the properties of the quantum vacuum implies the derivation of the fine structure constant.