Acceleration effects on atomic clocks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how acceleration affects atomic clock rates by analyzing a quantum system in accelerated frames, finding that acceleration influences clock frequency without violating the clock hypothesis.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum model of an atomic clock in accelerated motion and quantifies the impact of acceleration on clock frequency.

Findings

Acceleration alters the energy spectrum of the system.

The rate of atomic clocks is affected by instantaneous acceleration.

Results are consistent with the clock hypothesis.

Abstract

We consider a free massive particle inside a box which is dragged by Rindler observers. Admitting that the particle obeys the Klein-Gordon equation, we find the frequencies of the stationary states of this system. Transitions between the stationary states are employed to set a standard frequency for a toy atomic clock. Comparing the energy spectrum of the accelerated system with the energy spectrum of an identical system in an inertial frame, we determine the influence of the instantaneous acceleration on the rate of atomic clocks. We argue that our result does not violate the clock hypothesis.