Decoherence of the Unruh Detector

TL;DR

This paper explores how the thermal radiation perceived by an accelerating detector, known as the Unruh effect, may induce decoherence, affecting the classical behavior of the detector's trajectory.

Contribution

It introduces an uncertainty relation linking temperature fluctuations, interaction time, and coupling strength to the environment, providing insight into decoherence mechanisms.

Findings

Derived an uncertainty relation involving temperature fluctuation, flight time, and coupling.

Showed thermal radiation can influence the classicality of the detector's path.

Provided a framework connecting quantum field effects to decoherence criteria.

Abstract

As it is well known, the Minkowski vacuum appears thermally populated to a quantum mechanical detector on a uniformly accelerating course. We investigate how this thermal radiation may contribute to the classical nature of the detector's trajectory through the criteria of decoherence. An uncertainty-type relation is obtained for the detector involving the fluctuation in temperature, the time of flight and the coupling to the bath.