Plasma-like Vacuum in Podolsky Regularized Classical Electrodynamics

Abstract

We analyze wave propagation in the vacuum of Podolsky regularized electrodynamics. Two kinds of waves were found in the theory: the traditional non-dispersive waves of Maxwell electrodynamics, and a dispersive wave reminiscent of wave propagation in a collisionless plasma. Charged particle concentration was determined, and found to be huge in this vacuum. We interpret the results in terms of vacuum polarization effects induced in an otherwise classical theory.