Particle and energy creation by moving mirrors

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.31.767· OSTI ID:6088542

Walker, W R

We consider the creation of massless scalar particles by a moving mirror in two-dimensional space-time. The correct form for the Bogoliubov coefficients is given and their high-frequency behavior is investigated. We next consider the energy radiated by the mirror and show that this is related in the expected way to the number of particles produced only if a particular condition on the trajectory is fulfilled. The well-known moving-mirror formula of Fulling and Davies, which gives the radiated energy as a functional of the mirror trajectory, is here rederived from the Bogoliubov transformation, without recourse to regularization. Finally we analyze the response of a particle detector, and solve the paradox of how the detector can respond even when the mirror is radiating no energy.

• Research Organization: Department of Theoretical Physics, The University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU United Kingdom
• OSTI ID: 6088542
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 31:4; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645201* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical-- General & Scattering Theory
645400 -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BLACK HOLES
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
KLEIN-GORDON EQUATION
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MOVING-BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SCALAR FIELDS
SPACE-TIME
WAVE EQUATIONS