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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|Forerunner|Human|UNSC|HCW}} |
| {{Wikipedia|Vacuum energy}} | | {{Ratings}} |
| {{New content|[[Halo Wars 2]]}} | | {{SeeWikipedia|Vacuum energy}} |
| '''Vacuum energy''' is an underlying background [[Wikipedia:energy|energy]] that exists in space throughout the entire [[Wikipedia:Universe|universe]]. One contribution to the vacuum energy may be from [[Wikipedia:Virtual particle|virtual particles]], particle pairs throughout the universe that blink into existence and then annihilate in a timespan too short to observe. Their behavior is codified in Heisenberg's [[Wikipedia:Uncertainty principle|energy–time uncertainty principle]]. The effects of vacuum energy are thought to influence the behavior of the universe on [[Wikipedia:Physical cosmology|cosmological scales]]. In the early 21st century, [[human]]ity contemplated the theoretical possibility of using vacuum energy to create free energy machines. It was argued that due to the broken symmetry (in [[Wikipedia:Quantum electrodynamics|quantum electrodynamics]]), free energy does not violate [[Wikipedia:Conservation of energy|conservation of energy]], since the laws of thermodynamics only apply to equilibrium systems. | | '''Vacuum energy''' is an underlying background energy that exists in space even when the space is devoid of matter (free space). The concept of vacuum energy has been deduced from the concept of virtual particles, which is itself derived from the energy-time uncertainty principle. The effects of vacuum energy can be observed in various phenomena such as spontaneous emission, the Casimir effect, the van der Waals bonds and the Lamb shift, and are thought to influence the behavior of the Universe on cosmological scales. Using the upper limit of the cosmological constant, the vacuum energy in a cubic centimeter of free space has been estimated to be 10−15 Joules. However, in both Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED), consistency with the principle of Lorentz covariance and with the magnitude of the Planck Constant requires it to have a much larger value of 10107 Joules per cubic centimeter. |
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| Vacuum energy originates from the beginnings of infinite numbers of alternate realities. When harnessed for power supply, these fledgling universes are drained of energy in their infancy, resulting in their premature deaths.<ref name="s279">'''[[Halo: Silentium]]''', ''page 279''</ref> Virtually all [[Forerunner]] technology utilized the practically infinitely available vacuum energy as a power source, making possible their myriad of technological marvels. These included the [[Halo Array]], as well as the systems used to make their [[shield world]]s, such as [[Requiem]], completely self-sufficient.{{Ref/Reuse|s279}} Forerunner [[reaction drive]]s utilized vacuum energy to expel virtual neutrons from the rear of the vessel, giving it propulsion.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 129''</ref>
| | The existence of vacuum energy is also sometimes used as theoretical justification for the possibility of free energy machines. It has been argued that due to the broken symmetry (in QED), free energy does not violate conservation of energy, since the laws of thermodynamics only apply to equilibrium systems. |
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| When designing the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] made a note in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|her journal]] to ask [[Déjà]] about research on vacuum energy as a potential power source.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> Being of Forerunner origin, {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s [[slipspace drive]] is equipped with a vacuum energy siphon.<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 132''</ref> | | [[Forerunner]] [[Reaction drive|reaction drives]] utilize vacuum energy to expel virtual neutrons from the rear of the vessel, giving it propulsion.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 129''</ref> When designing the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] made a note in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|her journal]] to ask [[Déjà]] about research on vacuum energy as a potential power source.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> |
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| The effects of malfunctioning vacuum energy extraction machinery can be disastrous: when guano dust seeped into [[Covert Support Base 4276]]'s vacuum energy extractor, its calibrations were corrupted, unleashing a "cyclone of quantum fury" that tore through the facility, warping both space and time and dimensionally displacing anything in its way. A wave of subatomic agitation was also released, softening metal and disintegrating polymers and thus damaging most of the facility's equipment.<ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', ''page 131'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Even well after the incident, the extractor continued to generate a space-time anomaly in its vicinity: when [[Frederic-104]] looked directly into the device, he experienced an overwhelming vision of cosmic grandeur, witnessing the life cycles of entire universes while losing his sense of self, time and place. This phenomenon was accompanied by a peculiar time dilation-like effect, in which Fred's mission clock had only recorded the passing of ten minutes while two hours had passed outside his frame of reference.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 141'' (Google Play edition)</ref> When six [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s destroyed [[Salvation Base]] and the Forerunner [[Suluhu Contemplarium]] it was built within, the destruction caused the moon of [[Taram]] upon which the Contemplarium was build to implode into the vacuum energy extractor that was powering the Contemplarium.<ref>'''[[Halo: Retribution]]''', ''page 195''</ref>
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| Both [[Ancient humanity|Ancient human]]s and [[San'Shyuum#Prehistory|Ancient San'Shyuum]] were also known for using vacuum energy during prehistoric era.{{Ref/Reuse|prim237}}{{Ref/Reuse|c113}}<ref name="c164">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 164''</ref>
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| *''[[Halo: Reach]]''
| | *''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{1st}} |
| **''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Fm}}
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| *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' {{Mo}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| [[Category:Physics]] | | [[Category:Physics]] |
| | [[Category:Science Fiction Concepts]] |
