Decay of protons and neutrons induced by acceleration

TL;DR

This paper examines how acceleration affects proton and neutron decay rates, demonstrating that despite differing interpretations in inertial and coaccelerated frames, the decay rates are consistent across both, using simplified 2D models.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of decay processes in different frames, confirming the invariance of decay rates under acceleration in a simplified spacetime model.

Findings

Decay rates agree in inertial and coaccelerated frames

Particle interpretation varies between frames

Simplified 2D model does not affect conclusions

Abstract

We investigate the decay of accelerated protons and neutrons. Calculations are carried out in the inertial and coaccelerated frames. Particle interpretation of these processes are quite different in each frame but the decay rates are verified to agree in both cases. For sake of simplicity our calculations are performed in a two-dimensional spacetime since our conclusions are not conceptually affected by this.