Unruh effect = Hawking effect?

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In summary, the Unruh and Hawking effects are two separate but similar phenomena that are often compared and contrasted due to their connection to curved spacetime and horizons. While there are some differences, they are largely similar in terms of their effects and interpretations. Further analysis and discussion can be found in various papers and online discussions.
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Hello everybody,

I am currently studying QFT on curved spacetime and I got puzzled about the question:

Are Unruh and Hawking effect just the same by invoking the equivalence principle?

I found ambiguous statements and this paper contributed to it. http://arxiv.org/pdf/1102.5564v2.pdf

Is anybody here who knows details, can refer any good paper, argumentation?

Thanks in advance!
 
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It is widely agreed that they are different (but in many respects similar) effects, and the paper you mention confirms it.

By the way, I have another question which someone might be able to answer. There are many examples of condensed-matter ANALOGUE Hawking radiation, but is there a similar ANALOGUE Unruh effect?
 
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Thanks Demystifier,
but in which precise aspects are they different and in which similar? Is there a clear analysis somewhere available?
 
  • #5
A lot of the 'differences' seem related to different frames of reference...

We had a rather good discussion here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=574548

with some interesting links.

And Wikipedia offers this:

..The Rindler spacetime has a horizon, and locally any non-extremal black hole horizon is Rindler. So the Rindler spacetime gives the local properties of black holes and cosmological horizons. The Unruh effect would then be the near-horizon form of the Hawking radiation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unruh_e...interpretation
[This link no longer seems to work??]

Some connections between Unruh and Hawking effects are mentioned here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawking_radiation
 
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1. What is the Unruh effect and the Hawking effect?

The Unruh effect and the Hawking effect are two closely related phenomena in theoretical physics. The Unruh effect describes the phenomenon of particles being created when an observer is accelerating through space, whereas the Hawking effect describes the emission of particles from the event horizon of a black hole. Both effects involve the spontaneous creation of particles from the vacuum of space.

2. How are the Unruh effect and the Hawking effect related?

The Unruh effect and the Hawking effect are both based on the concept of virtual particles, which are particles that briefly exist and then annihilate each other. In both cases, these virtual particles can become real particles through a process called pair production, creating new particles that can be observed by an outside observer.

3. Why is the Unruh effect also known as the Hawking effect?

The Unruh effect is sometimes referred to as the Hawking effect because it was first proposed by physicist Stephen Hawking in the 1970s as a possible explanation for the emission of particles from black holes. However, the Unruh effect is a more general phenomenon and is not limited to black holes.

4. Can the Unruh effect and the Hawking effect be observed in real life?

While the Unruh effect and the Hawking effect are well-established theories in physics, they have not yet been directly observed in real-life experiments. This is because the effects are very small and require extreme conditions, such as high speeds or strong gravitational fields, to be observed.

5. How do the Unruh effect and the Hawking effect impact our understanding of the universe?

The Unruh effect and the Hawking effect have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and the laws of physics. They provide insights into the nature of spacetime and the behavior of particles in extreme conditions. The Hawking effect, in particular, has sparked new theories and research into the behavior of black holes and the nature of gravity.

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