On equilibrium radiation and zero-point fluctuations in non-relativistic electron gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how equilibrium radiation in plasma differs from classical models, highlighting the role of zero-point fluctuations and their dependence on electron density, with implications for plasma physics and quantum field theory.

Contribution

It introduces a renormalization approach for zero vacuum fluctuations in plasma, showing their dependence on electron density and extending to quasineutral plasma.

Findings

Equilibrium radiation spectrum in plasma differs from Planck distribution.

Zero vacuum fluctuations require renormalization in plasma environments.

Renormalized fluctuations depend on electron density.

Abstract

Examination of equilibrium radiation in plasma media shows that the spectral the energy distribution of such radiation is different from the Planck equilibrium radiation. Using the previously obtained general relations for the spectral energy density of equilibrium radiation in a system of charged particles, we consider radiation in an electron in the limiting case of an infinitesimal damping. It is shown that zero vacuum fluctuations which are part of the full spectral energy distribution should be renormalized. In this case, the renormalized zero vacuum fluctuations depend on the electron density. A similar effect should exist in the general case of a quasineutral plasma.