6 v 1 7 J un 1 99 5 QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS AND INERTIA

Vacuum field fluctuations exert a radiation pressure which induces mechanical effects on scatterers. The question naturally arises whether the energy of vacuum fluctuations gives rise to inertia and gravitation in agreement with the general principles of mechanics. As a new approach to this question, we discuss the mechanical effects of quantum field fluctuations on two mirrors building a Fabry-Perot cavity. We first put into evidence that the energy related to Casimir forces is an energy stored on field fluctuations as a result of scattering time delays. We then discuss the forces felt by the mirrors when they move within vacuum field fluctuations, and show that energy stored on vacuum fluctuations contributes to inertia in conformity with the law of inertia of energy. As a further consequence, inertial masses exhibit quantum fluctuations with characteristic spectra in vacuum. PACS numbers: 12.20 Ds 03.70 42.50 Lc LPTENS 95/4 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.