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The term Brownian Motion is defined by Wikipedia as "random motion of particles suspended in a" liquid or gas. Thus it is not defined for the vacuum.

It is explained as interaction between the particle and randomly moving atoms or molecules around it.

I would like to know if it has ever been tested if a similar phenomenon might occur between a particle and the vacuum. What I am asking for more specifically is if it has been tested if some quantum entity / event of the vacuum might interact with a particle in a similar way. (For example spin networks of Loop Quantum Gravity or virtual particles)

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    $\begingroup$ Are you essentially asking if any violations of the conservation of momentum have ever been observed? $\endgroup$
    – Chiral Anomaly
    Commented Aug 13, 2021 at 20:41
  • $\begingroup$ On a specific scale and in a specific context and if you would consider the observation of random motion in that setting inexplicable then "yes". $\endgroup$
    – B M
    Commented Aug 13, 2021 at 21:36
  • $\begingroup$ It's hard to observe a vacuum while maintaining its vacuum-like qualities. $\endgroup$
    – TLDR
    Commented Aug 14, 2021 at 15:51
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, I did but understand your point @TLDR. $\endgroup$
    – B M
    Commented Aug 15, 2021 at 22:28
  • $\begingroup$ @ChiralAnomaly see solution below. $\endgroup$
    – B M
    Commented Aug 15, 2021 at 22:33

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This is a really interesting question. I think it is first worth noting that Brownian motion is not unique to particles suspended in a gas or liquid, but rather random movement in any medium. It is the interaction between these particles that eventually causes movement that we see as random. These systems are chaotic, which is why the phenomenon of Brownian motion arises. However, virtual particles appear in pairs of normal particles and anti-matter particles and are attracted to each other. So, when they collide, it results in the anhelation of these particles. Because of this, I do not think Brownian motion will occur. However, I am unsure of it as far as quantum loop gravity, as I am not very knowledgeable in that area.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for your contribution, but other than speculated virtual particles indeed do influence the motion of other macroscopic particles, see accepted answer. $\endgroup$
    – B M
    Commented Aug 16, 2021 at 5:22
  • $\begingroup$ Interesting! I was not previously aware of this, but I suppose it makes sense. $\endgroup$
    – CalebMandia
    Commented Aug 18, 2021 at 18:22
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I found the answer to my question stated clearly on Wikipedia:

In July 2020, scientists reported that quantum vacuum fluctuations can influence the motion of macroscopic, human-scale objects by measuring correlations below the standard quantum limit between the position/momentum uncertainty of the mirrors of LIGO and the photon number/phase uncertainty of light that they reflect.

See Quantum Fluctuations which cites several sources including "Nature". The answer to my question above is "yes".

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