On the finite-temperature quantum electrodynamics of gravitational acceleration

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.40.4096· OSTI ID:7165614

Barton, G ^[1]

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1. School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, England (GB)

The temperature-dependent quantum-electrodynamic corrections to the Helmholtz free energy {ital F} of a particle at rest, and to its inertial mass {ital m}{sub inert}, are the same: {Delta}{ital F}={Delta}{ital m}{sub inert}={pi}e{sup 2}(kT){sup 2}/3m. By contrast, the correction to the total energy {ital U}={ital F}+{ital TS} is {Delta}{ital U}={minus}{Delta}{ital F}. Donoghue, Holstein, and Robinett have pointed out that if (as the equivalence principle appears to imply) weight is proportional to total energy, then the gravitational acceleration of a particle inside a blackbody cavity becomes {ital g}({ital m}+{Delta}{ital U})/({ital m}+{Delta}{ital F}){approx}{ital g}(1{minus}2{Delta}{ital F}/{ital m}){lt}{ital g}. However, while {ital F} represents the random kinetic energy of (and is thereby localized on) the particle, further analysis now suggests that the entropic energy difference {ital T}{Delta}{ital S}={Delta}{ital U}{minus}{Delta}{ital F} is distributed over the cavity uniformly and independently of the particle position. If so, then the gravitational pull on {ital T}{Delta}{ital S} cannot affect the motion of the particle well within the cavity, so that it will, after all, experience the universal Galilean acceleration {ital g}.

• OSTI ID: 7165614
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA) Vol. 40:12; ISSN PRVDA; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BLACKBODY RADIATION
DIAGRAMS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
ENTROPY
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FEYNMAN DIAGRAM
FIELD THEORIES
FREE ENERGY
GRAVITATION
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LORENTZ INVARIANCE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PHOTONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
RADIATIONS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES