Phys.org   September 8, 2021 An accelerating photodetector is predicted to see photons in the electromagnetic vacuum. However, the extreme accelerations required have prevented the direct experimental verification of this quantum vacuum effect. Researchers at Dartmouth College considered many accelerating photodetectors that are contained within an electromagnetic cavity. They showed that the resulting photon production from the cavity vacuum can be collectively enhanced such as to be measurable. When the detector number exceeds a certain critical value, the vacuum photon production undergoes a phase transition from a normal phase to an enhanced super radiant-like, inverted lasing phase. Such a model may […]