Work

Emission of pairs of Minkowski photons through the lens of the Unruh effect

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We discuss the emission of pairs of photons by charges with generic worldlines in the Minkowski vacuum from the viewpoint of inertial observers and interpret them from the perspective of Rindler observers. We show that the emission of pairs of Minkowski photons corresponds, in general, to three distinct processes according to Rindler observers: scattering, and emission and absorption of pairs of Rindler photons. In the special case of uniformly accelerated charges, the radiation observed in the inertial frame can be fully described by the scattering channel in the Rindler frame. Therefore, the emission of pairs of Minkowski photons -- commonly referred to as Unruh radiation -- can be seen as further evidence supporting the Unruh effect.

Source: Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

DOI: 10.1103/bj1n-5qc8

Authors: Juan V. O. Pêgas, Robert Bingham, Gianluca Gregori, George E. A. Matsas

Institutions: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, University of Strathclyde, University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Science and Technology Facilities Council