In quantum field theory, the vacuum is not considered to have the same properties as a particle in the usual sense. Instead, the vacuum is associated with the lowest energy state of the quantum field.
Quantum field theory describes particles as excitations or quanta of their corresponding fields. These fields permeate all of space, even in regions that are devoid of particles. The vacuum state represents the absence of any particles or excitations in the field.
However, the vacuum state is not completely empty or devoid of any properties. It is associated with certain fluctuations and quantum effects known as vacuum fluctuations. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, there is a fundamental limit to the precision with which certain pairs of physical quantities, such as energy and time, or position and momentum, can be simultaneously known. These fluctuations give rise to the appearance of virtual particles that continuously emerge and annihilate in the vacuum.
These virtual particles are not the same as real, observable particles with well-defined properties such as mass and charge. They are temporary excitations that borrow energy from the vacuum for a brief period before returning it. These fluctuations are an inherent consequence of quantum field theory and are important for understanding phenomena like the Casimir effect and the Lamb shift.
So, while the vacuum is not considered to be a particle itself, it has associated fluctuations and virtual particle behavior that arise due to the principles of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.