Subvacuum effects on light propagation

TL;DR

This paper explores how negative energy densities in quantum electromagnetic fields can influence light propagation in nonlinear media, leading to measurable effects like increased pulse speed and spectral changes.

Contribution

It demonstrates the theoretical possibility of detecting subvacuum effects through observable modifications in light pulse behavior in nonlinear dielectric waveguides.

Findings

Pulse speed can increase due to subvacuum effects.

Spectral shifts indicate negative mean-squared electric fields.

Potential for experimental observation of quantum field effects.

Abstract

Subvacuum effects arise in quantum field theory when a classically positive quantity, such as the local energy density, acquires a negative renormalized expectation value. Here we investigate the case of states of the quantized electromagnetic field with negative mean-squared electric field, and their effects on the propagation of light pulses in a nonlinear dielectric material with a nonzero third-order susceptibility. We identify two distinct signatures of the subvacuum effect in this situation. The first is an increase in the speed of the pulse, which is analogous to the superluminal light propagation in gravity which can arise from negative energy density. This increase in speed leads to a phase shift which might be large enough to observe. The second effect is a change in the frequency and power spectra of the pulse. We identify a specific measure of the modified spectra which can signal the presence of a negative mean squared electric field. These ideas are implemented in the particular example of a wave guide filled with a nonlinear dielectric material.