Unruh effect = Compton effect ?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter czes
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Compton effect
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between the Unruh effect and the Compton effect, asserting that both phenomena involve interactions with virtual particles. The Unruh effect indicates that an accelerating observer perceives black-body radiation, while the Compton effect describes the inelastic scattering of photons, resulting in energy transfer to electrons. The participants argue that the Unruh effect is not solely dependent on gravitational fields but can also be observed in flat space-time. Furthermore, they suggest that advancements in Quantum Gravity theories may provide deeper insights into these effects.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Unruh effect and its implications in quantum field theory.
  • Familiarity with Compton scattering and its role in photon interactions.
  • Basic knowledge of gravitational fields and their distinction from vacuum states.
  • Awareness of Quantum Gravity concepts and thermodynamic space theories.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the Unruh effect in Quantum Gravity frameworks.
  • Explore the relationship between virtual particle-antiparticle pairs and gravitational fields.
  • Study the thermodynamic space theory and its connection to gravity as an entropic force.
  • Investigate zero point energy and its relevance to modern physics theories.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, researchers in quantum mechanics, and students of theoretical physics seeking to understand the interplay between acceleration, gravity, and quantum effects.

czes
Messages
220
Reaction score
1
Unruh (by definition) effect shows that an accelerating observer will observe black-body radiation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unruh_effect
It is in a gravitational field.

Compton scattering by definition. The inelastic scattering of photons in matter results in a decrease in energy (increase in wavelength) of an X-ray or gamma ray photon, called the Compton effect. Part of the energy of the X/gamma ray is transferred to a scattering electron, which recoils and is ejected from its atom, and the rest of the energy is taken by the scattered, "degraded" photon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compton_scattering
It is in an EM field.

If the the Vacuum (gravitational field) is a plasma of the virtual particle-antiparticle pairs the mechanism of the Unruh and Compton is the same. An accelerating electron in the gravitational field (virtual plasma) absorbs more virtual pairs than emits and does see the thermal bath (the vacuum density increases towards the massive object). An accelerating electron in the EM field absorbs more photons than emits and does see the thermal bath too.
http://www.hlawiczes1.webpark.pl/gravastar.html
Isn't it ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
The Unruh effect isn't due to the gravitational field. It is an effect in flat space-time.

The gravitational field isn't the vacuum.
 
Finbar said:
The Unruh effect isn't due to the gravitational field. It is an effect in flat space-time.

The gravitational field isn't the vacuum.

The Unruh effect is in an accelerated motion. The gravitational field is an example where we accelerate.
What is a gravitational field and what is a spacetime. It depends on a theory. If you stop at the pure General Relativity you are right and Unruh effect isn't true.
It is true if we go deeper into a Quantum Gravity. There are many ideas, of course.
One of them is the thermodynamic space, where the gravity is an entropic force and you use Unruh effect. You may read about zero point energy http://www.calphysics.org/articles/gravity_arxiv.pdf
We are in XXI century and there is a progress in physics.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

High School Gamma spectroscopy, Compton edge
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
Undergrad Understanding Scattered Radiation in Photon Beams
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Using Compton Scattering to Determine Interaction Depth in Materials
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Unruh Radiation and Black Holes
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Graduate The Compton Effect: Scattering Low Energy Photons by Electrons
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Is Inverse Compton Scattering Related to the Doppler Effect?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate Is there a symmetry in the Unruh effect?
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
1K
Graduate Classical Predictions of Scattered Radiation
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Compton scattering in a Feynman diagram
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Radiation effects/damage in structural alloys and ceramics
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K