States insensitive to the Unruh effect in multi-level detectors

TL;DR

This paper investigates how multi-level atoms, modeled as detectors under constant acceleration, exhibit certain states that are insensitive to the Unruh effect, with implications for understanding quantum field interactions in non-inertial frames.

Contribution

It introduces a covariant approach to analyze multi-level atom interactions with electromagnetic fields under acceleration, revealing states unaffected by the Unruh effect.

Findings

Certain stable states are unaffected by acceleration-induced effects.

Multi-level transitions include new Raman-like processes.

Unruh effect remains unobservable in these scenarios.

Abstract

We give a general treatment of the spontaneous excitation rates and the non-relativistic Lamb shift of constantly accelerated multi-level atoms as a model for multi-level detectors. Using a covariant formulation of the dipole coupling between the atom and the electromagnetic field we show that new Raman-like transitions can be induced by the acceleration. Under certain conditions these transitions can lead to stable ground and excited states which are not affected by the non inertial motion. The magnitude of the Unruh effect is not altered by multi-level effects. Both the spontaneous excitation rates and the Lamb shift are not within the range of measurability.