Zero-point fluctuations in Josephson junctions - implications for dark energy

量子涨落意味着真空并不像经典物理学中假设的那样是空的。这些波动，也被称为零点波动，在超导电子器件（约瑟夫森结）中产生可测量的影响。零点波动的能量，也被称为真空能量，可能是宇宙暗能量的原因，这是一种神秘的能量，目前主导着宇宙。如果是这种情况，人们期望在约瑟夫森结中的电流噪声的测量频谱中看到高频处的截止。目前，美国正在设计一项实验来验证这一假设，预计很快就会有第一批实验数据。该研究项目旨在与实验学家密切合作，开发约瑟夫森结中高频噪声的数学理论，预测可能的光谱和截止点，并将理论预测与未来的实验数据进行比较。

Quantum fluctuations mean that the vacuum is not empty as it is assumed in classical physics. These fluctuations, also known as zero-point fluctuations, produce measurable effects in superconducting electronic devices (Josephson junctions). The energy of zero-point fluctuations, also called vacuum energy, could be responsible for the dark energy of the universe, a mysterious type of energy that is currently dominating the universe. If this is the case, one expects to see a cutoff at high frequencies in the measured frequency spectrum of current noise in Josephson junctions. Currently an experiment to test this hypothesis is being designed in the US and the first experimental data are expected soon. The research project is to develop a mathematical theory of high frequency noise in Josephson junctions, to predict possible spectra and cutoffs, and to compare the theoretical predictions with future experimental data, in close collaboration with the experimentalists.