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Decay of Accelerated Protons and the Existence of the Fulling-Davies-Unruh Effect

Daniel A. T. Vanzella and George E. A. Matsas
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 151301 – Published 25 September 2001
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Abstract

We investigate the weak decay of uniformly accelerated protons in the context of standard quantum field theory. Because the mean proper lifetime of a particle is a scalar, the same value for this observable must be obtained in the inertial and coaccelerated frames. We are only able to achieve this equality by considering the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect. This reflects the fact that the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect is mandatory for the consistency of quantum field theory.

  • Received 5 April 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.151301

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Daniel A. T. Vanzella and George E. A. Matsas

  • Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Pamplona 145, 01405-900, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

See Also

Straddling a Speeding Proton

Geoff Brumfiel
Phys. Rev. Focus 8, 19 (2001)

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Issue

Vol. 87, Iss. 15 — 8 October 2001

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