On the Measurement of the Unruh Effect Through Extended Quantum Thermometers

TL;DR

This paper proposes a refined model of an extended quantum thermometer using a spin-1/2 particle to measure the Unruh temperature, accounting for the spatial extent of the system and providing a more realistic understanding of the effect.

Contribution

It introduces a new thermometer model that incorporates spatial extension and demonstrates its effectiveness in measuring the Unruh temperature.

Findings

The model effectively measures the local Unruh temperature.

It averages the temperature over the extended quantum system.

The approach improves understanding of quantum thermometry in accelerated systems.

Abstract

The Unruh effect, predicting a thermal reservoir for accelerating systems, calls for a more refined understanding of measurement processes involving quantum systems as thermometers. Conventional models fail to account for the inherent spatial extent of the thermometer, neglecting the complexities associated with accelerated extended quantum systems. Our work builds upon the seminal work of Bell, Hughes, and Leinaas. We propose a refined thermometer model incorporating a spin-1/2 particle where the spin acts as a temperature indicator. This refined model demonstrates the ability to effectively measure the temperature under specific, realistic conditions, providing a unique value that essentially averages the local Unruh temperatures throughout the extended quantum system acting as the thermometer.