See URL. Since they can slow down the photon, why can't they stop it from blinking back out of existence?

Question

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11376-photons-life-cycle-watched-in-full.html

Is there a way to stop the particles from blinking out of existence altogether?

Is there a way ( theoretically ) to add energy so that it would stay? Sorry, I only know bits and pieces about quantum mechanics. I've read a lot about this.. but have lots of .. what if's.. and whys.

Also, since it's a photon.. is .13 seconds enough time to entangle the photon with another one? ( I dont know why you would, but am just curious )

Answer 1

No, the photons produced by fluctuations in the vacuum field are living on borrowed time. The energy to create them doesn't really exist, so they're only allowed to exist for a moment. The remarkable thing is that they've managed to record the presence of the vacuum fluctuations without actually absorbing the photons.

Answer 2

Hi. Thanks, I added that site to my Physics bookmarks. My only thought at first glance it that, in physics, all things must balance. The demonstrated fact that a photon appeared has to be balanced with a disappearance. Funny stuff that quantum physics!