Quantum physics continues to mock classical physics, and this time scientists observed a “teleportation” of heat through absolutely empty space.
We were all taught at school that the transfer of thermal energy (like any other) is carried out through the vibrations of atoms or molecules, but in the quantum world this rule changes.
A study by physicists at the University of California at Berkeley touches on such a portion of quantum strangeness as the Casimir effect: the idea that the vacuum is not really empty space and is filled with tiny electromagnetic waves that can affect the environment.
Previously, scientists have already experimentally proved that, thanks to the Casimir effect, the movement of nanoparticles and their mutual convergence in vacuum is possible. It is likely that the transfer of thermal energy occurs in a similar way.
This discovery is very important for modern science, since knowledge of this will lead to the creation of nanoscale electronic components, and in the future, to quantum computers that will work under the influence of heat, compressing and returning to their original state.
“Any child knows that the conductivity of heat in a solid is provided by vibrations of atoms or molecules. For decades, textbooks have told us that vacuum does not spread energy, since it is devoid of a physical environment, but we saw that heat seemed to “teleport” and quantum fluctuations are responsible for this effect, ”commented the discovery of mechanical engineer Xiang Zhang, one of the participants research.
The effect was confirmed using two gold-plated silicon nitride membranes placed in a vacuum and spaced several hundred nanometers apart.
There were no atoms between the membranes, but the thermal energy “jumped” from the membrane to the membrane without any problems.
On a large scale, we do not observe this and therefore the vacuum pocket between the walls of the thermos keeps the heat of your drink. But at the quantum level, the consequences can be very serious.
If heat can “teleport”, then sound is probably capable of the same. Research is ongoing.
