Lamb shift of Unruh detector levels

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/23/11/015MaRDI QIDQ5481090zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Björn Garbrecht, T. Prokopec

Publication date 7 August 2006

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0510120

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Special relativity (83A05) Methods of quantum field theory in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C47)

Abstract: We argue that the energy levels of an Unruh detector experience an effect similar to the Lamb shift in Quantum Electrodynamics. As a consequence, the spectrum of energy levels in a curved background is different from that in flat space. As examples, we consider a detector in an expanding Universe and in Rindler space, and for the latter case we suggest a new expression for the local virtual energy density seen by an accelerated observer. In the ultraviolet domain, that is when the space between the energy levels is larger than the Hubble rate or the acceleration of the detector, the Lamb shift quantitatively dominates over the thermal response rate.

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Cited in

(5)

• THE KINEMATICS OF PARTICLES MOVING IN RAINBOW SPACETIME
• Generalized Unruh effect and Lamb shift for atoms on arbitrary stationary trajectories
• Relative energy shift of a two-level atom in a cylindrical spacetime
• Lamb shift of non-degenerate energy level systems placed between two infinite parallel conducting plates
• EFFECTS OF A BOUNDARY ON SPONTANEOUS EXCITATION OF AN ACCELERATED MULTILEVEL ATOM COUPLED WITH THE DERIVATIVE OF SCALAR FIELDS

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