Unruh gamma radiation at RHIC?

TL;DR

This paper explores whether semiclassical photon radiation from accelerated charges can serve as a thermometer for acceleration, comparing theoretical spectra with RHIC experimental data and discussing implications for Unruh radiation.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical photon radiation model based on Jackson's formula to analyze thermal-like spectra from accelerated charges, contrasting with Unruh temperature predictions.

Findings

Photon spectrum resembles a thermal distribution at high transverse momenta.

Inverse slope of the spectrum exceeds the Unruh temperature by a factor of pi.

Comparison with RHIC data suggests potential for using photon spectra as acceleration probes.

Abstract

Varying the proposition that acceleration itself would simulate a thermal environment, we investigate the semiclassical photon radiation as a possible telemetric thermometer of accelerated charges. Based on the classical Jackson formula we obtain the equivalent photon intensity spectrum stemming from a constantly accelerated charge and demonstrate its resemblances to a thermal distribution for high transverse momenta. The inverse transverse slope differs from the famous Unruh temperature: it is larger by a factor of pi. We compare the resulting direct photon spectrum with experimental data for AuAu collisions at RHIC and speculate about further, analytically solvable acceleration histories.