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Abstract

We present an approach to understanding the origin of inertia involving the electromagnetic component of the quantum vacuum and propose this as a step toward an alternative to Mach's principle. Preliminary analysis of the momentum flux of the classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation impinging on accelerated objects as viewed by an inertial observer suggests that the resistance to acceleration attributed to inertia may be at least in part a force of opposition originating in the vacuum. This analysis avoids the ad hoc modeling of particle-field interaction dynamics used previously by Haisch, Rueda and Puthoff (Phys. Rev. A 49, 678, 1994) to derive a similar result. This present approach is not dependent upon what happens at the particle point, but on how an external observer assesses the kinematical characteristics of the zeropoint radiation impinging on the accelerated object. A relativistic form of the equation of motion results from the present analysis. Its manifestly covariant form yields a simple result that may be interpreted as a contribution to inertial mass. We note that our approach is related by the principle of equivalence to Sakharov's conjecture (Sov. Phys. Dokl. 12, 1040, 1968) of a connection between Einstein action and the vacuum. The argument presented may thus be construed as a descendant of Sakharov's conjecture by which we attempt to attribute a mass-giving property to the electromagnetic component -and possibly other components -of the vacuum. In this view the physical momentum of an object is related to the radiative momentum flux of the vacuum instantaneously contained in the characteristic proper volume of the object. The interaction process between the accelerated object and the vacuum (akin to absorption or scattering of electromagnetic radiation) appears to generate a physical resistance (reaction force) to acceleration suggestive of what has been historically known as inertia.

On the relation between a zero-point-field-induced inertial effect and the Einstein–de Broglie formula

“…In spite of a suggestive preliminary proposal, an exact detailed model of this connection remains to be developed [10]. Finally, although we amply acknowledge [1,2] that other vacuum fields besides the electromagnetic do contribute to inertia, e.g. see [11], no attempt has been made within the context of the present work to explore that extension.…”

“…This led to a surprisingly simple and intuitive relation between what should be the inertial mass, m i , of an object of proper volume V 0 and the energy density of the ZPF instantaneously contained in V 0 . Besides simplicity, this new approach [1,2] improved over a previous one [3] in that it yielded a covariant generalization. As derived from the force associated with the ZPF momentum flux in transit through the object, m i and ρ ZP were found to be related as follows:…”

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It has been proposed that the scattering of electromagnetic zero-point radiation by accelerating objects results in a reaction force that may account, at least in part, for inertia [1,2,3]. This arises because of asymmetries in the electromagnetic zero-point field (ZPF) or electromagnetic quantum vacuum as perceived from an accelerating reference frame.

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“…Using the techniques of stochastic electrodynamics we examined the Poynting vector of the electromagnetic ZPF of the quantum vacuum in accelerating reference frames [1,2]. This led to a surprisingly simple and intuitive relation between what should be the inertial mass, m i , of an object of proper volume V 0 and the energy density of the ZPF instantaneously contained in V 0 .…”

Geometrodynamics, inertia and the quantum vacuum

“…While these additional acceleration-dependent terms do not show any spatial asymmetry in the expression for the spectral energy density, certain asymmetries do appear when the momentum flux of this radiation is calculated, resulting in a non-zero Rindler flux. [6] This asymmetry appears to be the process underlying inertial and gravitational forces.…”