Statistical mechanics of the vacuum

Abstract

The vacuum is full of virtual particles which exist for short moments of time. In this paper we construct a chaotic model of vacuum fluctuations associated with a fundamental entropic field that generates an arrow of time. The dynamics can be physically interpreted in terms of fluctuating virtual momenta. This model leads to a generalized statistical mechanics that distinguishes fundamental constants of nature.

Comments: 17 pages, 1 figure. Replaced by final version to appear in Mod. Phys. Lett. B. Conclusion extended, some further references added