Quantum Physicists Tune Material’s Property Using Energy of ‘Empty’ Space

> In quantum physics, there’s no such thing as truly empty space. Even the barest of voids has quantum fluctuations, such as particles continually being created and quickly annihilated in empty space.

> In a new paper in [Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08894-3), a team of quantum physicists, including Flatiron Institute research scientist Nicolas Regnault, demonstrates a remarkable setup that can **alter a material’s properties using vacuum field fluctuations.** By tuning the interaction strength between vacuum fields and gases made up of electrons confined to two dimensions of movement, the team successfully altered the bulk behavior of the electrons using the vacuum field fluctuations.

> The results could provide a new way for physicists to manipulate quantum materials for use in compact electronic devices,