Abstract
A graphene quantum dot provides a solid state analogue of the as yet unobserved charged vacuum predicted by quantum electrodynamics. The magnetic field affects the energy levels that contribute to the vacuum charge and either discharges a vacuum that is already charged or adds charge to it, depending on the position of the affected level relative to the Fermi level. These effects occur in external potentials of a few hundred meV and magnetic fields of a few T, an experimentally realisable regime.
Highlights
The effect of a magnetic field on the charged vacuum is investigated
The vacuum is neutral but it charges in the presence of an electric field strong enough to lower a bound state into the negative energy continuum
When the charge on the nucleus of a hydrogenic atom increases to beyond ∼ 172 the 1s state enters the negative energy continuum and if this happens at constant Fermi level, the vacuum charges
Summary
The effect of a magnetic field on the charged vacuum is investigated. The field dependence of the energy levels causes jumps in the total vacuum charge that occur whenever an energy level crosses the Fermi level and this leads to re-entrant cycles of vacuum charging and discharging. The vacuum is neutral but it charges in the presence of an electric field strong enough to lower a bound state into the negative energy continuum. When the charge on the nucleus of a hydrogenic atom increases to beyond ∼ 172 the 1s state enters the negative energy continuum and if this happens at constant Fermi level, the vacuum charges.
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