# phys: to characterize the tiny fluctuations in the vacuum, in detail

<< In quantum physics, a vacuum is not empty, but rather steeped in tiny fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Until recently it was impossible to study those vacuum fluctuations directly. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method that allows them to characterize the fluctuations in detail. >>

Oliver Morsch. Fluc­tu­a­tions in the void. ETH Zurich. Apr 11, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-04-fluctuations-void.html

<< A direct method of determining the spectral characteristics of vacuum field fluctuations has so far been missing. >>

AA << perform a direct measurement of the field correlation on these fluctuations in the terahertz frequency range by using electro-optic detection  in a nonlinear crystal placed in a cryogenic environment  >>

Ileana-Cristina Benea-Chelmus, Francesca Fabiana Settembrini, et al.
Electric field correlation measurements on the electromagnetic vacuum state. Nature. volume 568, pages202–206 (2019) Apr 10.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1083-9