Vacuum pressures and energy in a strong magnetic field

Abstract

We study vacuum in a strong magnetic field. It shows a nonlinear response, as a ferromagnetic medium. Anisotropic pressures arise, and a negative pressure is exerted in the direction perpendicular to the field. The analogy of this effect with the Casimir effect is analyzed. The vacuum transverse pressure is found to be of the same order of the statistical pressure for $B\sim10^{15}G$ and $N\sim10^{33}electrons/cm^{3}$. Vacuum interaction with the field is studied also for $B\sim10^{16}G$ and larger, including the electron anomalous magnetic moment. We estimate quark contribution to vacuum behavior.