Vacuum zero-point field pressure instability in astrophysical plasmas and the formation of cosmic voids

We show that a secular acceleration mechanism for charged particles (originating out of the Einstein-Hopf model) which has been predicted to exist in quantum and in semiclassical theories once electromagnetic zero- point field (ZPF) radiation is taken into account appears to have the correct properties in an astrophysical environment to contribute to the formation of cosmological voids. This mechanism would preferentially accelerate and energize particles in regions of lower density, thereby establishing a pressure gradient in the direction opposite to the density gradient and producing an expansion of regions of relatively low density and a contraction of regions of high density. This instability would eventually be counteracted by magnetic pressure from trapped field lines in the compressed, high-density plasma. The formation of cosmic structures at smaller scales, such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies, would subsequently proceed by gravitational effects acting in the compressed regions surrounding the voids.