On the quantum electrodynamics of a dispersive mirror. I. Mass shifts, radiation, and radiative reaction

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Annals of Physics (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/aphy.1995.1021· OSTI ID:165244

Barton, G ^[1]; Calogeracos, A ^[2]

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1. School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH (United Kingdom)
2. Athens (Greece)

A one-dimensional model is used to study quantum radiation from an infinitesimally thin jellium-type mirror moving nonrelativistically, with special attention to the effects of dispersion on the spectrum, the mean radiative reaction force F{sub rad}, and the self-mass. Elementary methods suffice throughout. The mirror`s position and momentum must be treated, initially, as dynamic variables; afterwards one can treat the velocity {beta}({ital t}) as an assigned classical parameter. One component {Delta}{ital M}{sup (1)} of the self-mass stems from energy localized on the mirror, interpretable as kinetic energy of the charge carriers induced by the zero-point oscillations of the field; the other component {Delta}{ital M}{sup (2)}, related to F{sub rad}, stems from the fields previously emitted by the mirror. Typically of nonrelativistic approximations, the calculated corrections to the rest-energy ({Delta}{ital M}{sup (1)}) and to the inertial mass ({Delta}{ital M}{sup (1)} +{Delta}{ital M}{sup (2)}) are numerically different, although of the same order. Some integrals over photon frequencies require a cutoff; in the no-cutoff limit {Delta}{ital M}{sup (1)} would diverge logarithmically, but dispersion attenuates high-frequency reflection sufficiently for all other results to remain well defined and finite. In particular, the (delayed) response of F{sub rad} to {beta} then emerges in closed form. {copyright} 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

• OSTI ID: 165244
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York), Journal Name: Annals of Physics (New York) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 238; ISSN APNYA6; ISSN 0003-4916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
MASS
MIRRORS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
OPTICAL DISPERSION
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
RADIATIVE CORRECTIONS