Mechanical Effects of Radiation Pressure Quantum Fluctuations

As revealed by space-time probing, mechanics and field theory come out as complementary descriptions for motions in space-time. In particular, quantum fields exert a radiation pressure on scatterers which results in mechanical effects that persist in vacuum. They include mean forces due to quantum field fluctuations, like Casimir forces, but also fluctuations of these forces and additional forces linked to motion. As in classical electron theory, a moving scatterer is submitted to a radiation reaction force which modifies its motional response to an applied force. We briefly survey the mechanical effects of quantum field fluctuations and discuss the consequences for stability of motion in vacuum and for position fluctuations. PACS numbers: 12.20 Ds 03.70 42.50 Lc LPTENS 95/5 May 1995 Proceedings of NATO-ASI Conference ”Electron Theory and Quantum Electrodynamics 100 years later”, September 5-16, 1994, Edirne, Turkey. Unité propre du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, associée à l’Ecole Normale Supérieure et à l’Université de Paris Sud. Unité de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure et de l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie, associée au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.