Physical vacuum: features of philosophical and natural-science approaches

Find the answer to the question, what is vacuum, is not so simple as it seems at first glance. This problem worried scientists since ancient times, and even today there are several approaches that explain the physical side of this phenomenon.

The physical vacuum under the names "nothing", "ether", "substantial emptiness" is considered in many philosophical concepts. Practically all these theories emphasize the fact that the main advantage of this "nothing" lies in the fact that it, unlike the objects and phenomena that are habitual for us, is deprived of any physical limitations. That is why it is considered as something universal, uniting all existing characteristics and properties.

Another important aspect that stands out in many philosophical works is that the physical vacuum is the ontological basis of all existing objects and phenomena. Despite the fact that in absolute terms this space contains nothing, potentially it is the factor that connects all natural forces and processes.

Finally, if we turn to purely scientific aspects, then it can be noted that despite the fact that it is impossible to see the physical vacuum, its existence can be proved on the basis of numerous experiments. This includes the Casimir effect, the so-called electron-positron pair, and the Lamb-Rutherford effect. For example, the well-known Casimir effect is proof that even in an absolutely seemingly "empty" space, forces arise that make two plates come together.

Modern science considers the physical vacuum from the point of view of the theory of quantum fields, according to which it represents the fundamental (or basic) state of any energy field that is found in the surrounding reality. A significant part of modern physicists agree that any substance comes from this "airless space", from where it gets its basic properties and characteristics. Many go further and try to prove that the physical vacuum is what the universe came into being from. For example, the well-known scientist J. Zel'dovich in his work cites several propositions that such a concept absolutely does not contradict any of the objective laws discovered so far, except for the law of conservation of a baryon charge, that is, the equilibrium between matter and antimatter.

In accordance with another modern approach, the physical vacuum is the lowest energy state at which any real particles are simply absent. At the same time, these researchers agree that this particular kind of matter is literally filled with all possible potential antiparticles and particles that can become real under the influence of external fields.

According to these ideas, in vacuum a continuous formation and disappearance of such pairs of elements as a positron and an electron, a nucleon and an antinucleon occur. They can not be registered (at least for the time being), but under a number of conditions they become quite tangible.