quantum fluctuation

Also known as quantum vacuum fluctuation, vacuum fluctuation

random change in the energy inside a (typically sub-microscopic) volume

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Commons category: Quantum mechanics

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3D visualization of quantum fluctuations of the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) vacuum

In quantum physics, a quantum fluctuation (also known as a vacuum state fluctuation or vacuum fluctuation) is the temporary random change in the amount of energy in a point in space, as prescribed by Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. They are minute random fluctuations in the values of the fields which represent elementary particles, such as electric and magnetic fields which represent the electromagnetic force carried by photons, W and Z fields which carry the weak force, and gluon fields which carry the strong force.