Frequency Spectra Analysis of Space and Time Averaged Quantum Stress Tensor Fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the frequency spectra of quantum stress tensor fluctuations, revealing bounds on particle frequencies that inform the design of experiments probing large quantum fluctuations.

Contribution

It characterizes the particle frequencies associated with quantum stress tensor fluctuations and establishes bounds relevant for experimental detection.

Findings

Frequencies of quantum fluctuations are bounded above by a power law.

Provides a method to identify the largest quantum fluctuations detectable in experiments.

Analyzes fluctuations of the squared derivatives of a massless scalar field in a spherical cavity.

Abstract

Observing physical effects of large quantum stress tensor fluctuations requires knowledge of the interactions between the probe and the particles of the underlying quantum fields. The quantum stress tensor operators must first be averaged in time alone or space and time to confer meaningful results, the details of which may correspond to the physical measurement process. We build on prior results to characterize the particle frequencies associated with quantum fluctuations of different magnitudes. For the square of time derivatives of the massless scalar field in a spherical cavity, we find that these frequencies are bounded above in a power law behavior. Our findings provide a way identify the largest quantum fluctuation that may be probed in experiments relying on frequency-dependent interactions.