ZPE is not background radiation. The zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may possess and is the
energy of the ground state of the system.
The "vacuum" is part of the quantum mechanical system. It is therefore believed to be in the ground state. However the first section above is an
abstraction.
Remember we are talking about statistical systems here. Much like the entropic state of molecules where not all molecules have the same temperature,
hence Maxwell's demon.
Not all ZPE has the same frequency, for evidence of this conjecture I refer you to the Casimer effect. If it were not for the difference between
statistically averaged uniformity and actual uniformity the ZPE would be truly uniform and therefore no better than trying to run your electric razor
off of an electrical ground with no power source. No matter how energized the earth itself might be.
I have read that the energy potential in a teacup sized area of Vacuum ZPE could destroy the earth, I do not know how that estimate was derived. There
are multituendous frequencys believed to be in the ZPE soup.
There is new hope in at least some of the physics community that the difference may be tapped by using the casimere effect as Maxwell's demon for
ZPE.
I refer you to an experiment with casimer plates and a femtosecond laser to try and excite the ZPE and extract and measure energy from it.
physics.units.it...
You might also look into negative resistors and negative resistance synthetic materials, there have been a few highly credible and a multitude more
less than credible references to the existence of such materials recently.
Since subatomic particles come in and out of existence, I believe the assumption is they fall back into the soup and rise back out.
I may be mistaken here.
Obviously not everything in the universe is part of the homogenous mix, it is that which is above the threshold of statistical mean which we observe
as energetic.
Please note the discrepancy between the statement that ZPE which the last letter stands for Energy, and the Zero Point which is a state of homogenous
frequencys, but not categorized as background radiation. Frequency of what might well be asked. I believe the answer is the frequency of vibration of
subatomic particles not instantiated as part of the material universe which we perceive.
I welcome your comments and criticisms, more welcome would be any insights you might have. As you see I like to keep track of my open questions, I
think it is a critical part of the effort to understand any complex issue.
[edit on 16-7-2008 by Cyberbian]
[edit on 16-7-2008 by Cyberbian]