On macroscopic residual QCD force of electrodynamics

Abstract

We explore a connection between virtual particles of quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics (QCD) which is predicted to give rise to a residual attractive interaction measurable as a macroscopic force. We calculate the asymptotic behavior of relevant scattering amplitudes, perform their resummation, and analyze the sign of the resulting interaction. Then, we calculate the primary experimentally observable consequences of this Standard Model force. We discuss the impact of this force at terrestrial scales and at astrophysical scales. In particular, we quantify the impact of this force on the warm ionized medium present in galaxies and the intracluster medium present in cluster of galaxies.