Particle production and apparent decoherence due to an accelerated time-delay

TL;DR

This paper investigates how an accelerated time-delay causes particle production and apparent decoherence in radiation, using quantum analysis and detection methods, with implications for understanding quantum field effects in accelerated frames.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum analysis of radiation from an accelerated time-delay, revealing particle production and decoherence effects, and explores conditions for signal purification.

Findings

Final state is a two-mode squeezed state of Unruh modes.

Radiation appears decohered to inertial observers.

Operational conditions for signal purification are identified.

Abstract

We study the radiation produced by an accelerated time-delay acting on the left moving modes. Through analysis via the Schrodinger picture, we find that the final state is a two-mode squeezed state of the left moving Unruh modes, implying particle production. We analyse the system from an operational point of view via the use of self-homodyne detection with broad-band inertial detectors. We obtain semi-analytical solutions that show that the radiation appears decohered when such an inertial observer analyses the information of the radiation from the accelerated time-delay source. We make connection with the case of the accelerated mirror. We investigate the operational conditions under which the signal observed by the inertial observer can be purified.