A Scattering Approach to the Dynamical Casimir Effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified scattering framework for analyzing the dynamical Casimir effect, applicable to various moving and dispersive objects, providing new formulas for photon emission and vacuum friction phenomena.

Contribution

It develops a comprehensive scattering approach for dynamical Casimir problems, deriving a general trace formula and applying it to diverse geometries and motions, including dispersive objects.

Findings

Derived a general trace formula for radiation from accelerating boundaries.

Analyzed photon generation in modulated optical mirrors.

Discussed vacuum friction effects on rotating objects and moving atoms.

Abstract

We develop a unified scattering approach to dynamical Casimir problems which can be applied to both accelerating boundaries, as well as dispersive objects in relative motion. A general (trace) formula is derived for the radiation from accelerating boundaries. Applications are provided for objects with different shapes in various dimensions, and undergoing rotational or linear motion. Within this framework, photon generation is discussed in the context of a modulated optical mirror. For dispersive objects, we find general results solely in terms of the scattering matrix. Specifically, we discuss the vacuum friction on a rotating object, and the friction on an atom moving parallel to a surface.