Electron-mirror duality and thermality

TL;DR

This paper explores the thermal properties of classical electromagnetic radiation from accelerated electrons, revealing conditions under which thermal photons are emitted and connecting mirror trajectories to thermal behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of electromagnetic radiation in the mirror-electron analogy, identifying conditions for thermal emission based on acceleration trajectories.

Findings

Thermal radiation occurs only for the Davies-Fulling trajectory.

Eternal uniform acceleration does not produce thermal radiation.

A zero-jerk condition is linked to thermal emission.

Abstract

Classical electromagnetic radiation from moving point charges is foundational, but the thermal dynamics responsible for classical acceleration temperature are poorly understood. We investigate the thermal properties of classical electromagnetic radiation in the context of the correspondence between accelerated electrons and moving mirrors, focusing on three trajectories with asymptotically infinite (Davies-Fulling), asymptotically zero (Walker-Davies), and eternally uniform acceleration. The latter two are argued not to be thermal, while the former is found to emit thermal photons with a temperature that depends on the electron's speed. Thermal radiation from the mirror reveals a zero-jerk condition.