Re: virtual particles preferred frame?

["Glenn A. Carlson" <gcarlson@MAIL.WIN.ORG>]

There is another way to get the measureable properties of a vacuum
(zero net gravitational attraction, zero net electric field, zero net
magnetic field, zero energy, etc.).  E.g., to get a zero net
gravitational attraction, one could be surrounded by zero mass
density, but one could also be immersed in a uniform and infinite sea
of positive mass particles.  The mass density is not zero, but the net
gravitational attraction is.  Zero mass density would result in a zero
net gravitational field, but that is not the situation I hypothesized;
virtual particles do not have negative mass.

Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
St. Charles County Community College
St. Peters, MO  63376
gcarlson@mail.win.org

Subject:         Re: virtual particles preferred frame?
   Date:         Sun, 7 Nov 1999 10:22:12 -0800
   From:         Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>

Leigh Palmer wrote:

> > Though I disagree with the statement that the mass density of the
> > virtual particles is zero

> I believe the definition of a vacuum would subsume zero mass
> density. Mine would, anyway.