Proposal for Observing the Unruh Effect using Classical Electrodynamics

Gabriel Cozzella, André G. S. Landulfo, George E. A. Matsas, and Daniel A. T. Vanzella
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 161102 – Published 21 April 2017
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Abstract

Although the Unruh effect can be rigorously considered as well tested as free quantum field theory itself, it would be nice to provide experimental evidence of its existence. This is not easy because the linear acceleration needed to reach a temperature 1 K is of order 1020m/s2. Here, we propose a simple experiment reachable under present technology whose result may be directly interpreted in terms of the Unruh thermal bath. Instead of waiting for experimentalists to perform it, we use standard classical electrodynamics to anticipate its output and fulfill our goal.

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  • Received 10 January 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.161102

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics

Authors & Affiliations

Gabriel Cozzella1,*, André G. S. Landulfo2,†, George E. A. Matsas3,‡, and Daniel A. T. Vanzella4,§

  • 1Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Dr. Bento Teobaldo Ferraz, 271, 01140-070 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 2Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, 09210-580 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 3Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Dr. Bento Teobaldo Ferraz, 271, 01140-070 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 4Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, 13560-970 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

  • *cozzella@ift.unesp.br
  • andre.landulfo@ufabc.edu.br
  • matsas@ift.unesp.br
  • §vanzella@ifsc.usp.br

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 16 — 21 April 2017

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