Zero-point energy of quantum fields in a Schwarzschild geometry

The effective Lagrangian and the zero-point ( or Casimir) energy is calculated from the zeta-function which is obtained by the heat kernel method using the expansion of ( Bormann and Antonsen, 1995). Calculated this way this unavoidable energy contribution is automatically regularised and ready for further investigation. Interesting observations include a large energy contribution ( from scalar field and fermionic zero-point fluctuations) that is non-zero as the mass goes to zero, perhaps indicating a topological origin. Also, plots of the contribution of gauge boson fields to the zero-point energy, as a function of radial distance ( gravitational field strength) and the size of the gauge boson coupling ( gauge field strength) shows great variation, notably the occurrence of 'resonances.'