The Role of the Zero-Point Field in the Shift of the Ground State Energy of Atoms

Abstract

Suppose there is a zero-point field corresponding to the zero-point energy in vacuum. We can use time-dependent perturbation theory to calculate the influence of the field on the energy of atoms. When the field is applied to atoms which are in the ground state initially, the energy change of the atoms shows a linear dependence on time with a constant energy shift. This constant shift is the usual energy shift of atoms.