An euclidean approach as a method to study the Unruh effect

Author(s)

Pedro Tavares Paes Lopes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física (IF/SBI)
• Defense date: 2007-06-18

Examining board members

Joao Carlos Alves Barata; Luiz Renato Goncalves Fontes; George Emanuel Avraam Matsas

• Advisor: Joao Carlos Alves Barata

Abstract

This paper proposes a Euclidean strategy to understand the Unruh effect. On that ground we first study it for free massless scalar fields the way it is usually presented to pliysicists, which is closer to Unruh\'s original work [32]. Then we infer the effect from an algebraic perspective. We study the proprieties and definitions of KklS states in order to understand the description of an equilibrium state in the algebraic approach. We present the Wightman\'s as well as Osterwalder-Schrader\'s axioms for scalar fields. Then we use the Bisognano-Wichmann theorem for these fields and conclude, based on Sewell work 1271, that a uniformly accelerated observer will observe tlie vacuum state of inertial observers as a KMS state and thus as an equilibrium state. Once again we infer the existence of the Cnruh effect. Finally we study some relations between probability and functional analysis. This study is crucial for understanding the work of Klein and Landau 1151 as well as of Gérard and Jakel (71. They state there is a biunivocal relation between certain KMS states and certain stochastic processes (Klein and Landau) and a relation between certain stochastic processes and generalized path spaces (Gérard and Jakel). Lsing these works and Schwinger functions for scalar fields, we deduce tlie Unruh effect in a new way. LVe believe this work shows an interesting aspect of the Unruh effect and represents the use of Euclidean formalism in quantum field theory. Although some demonstrations for a complete proof of the Unruh effect using Euclidean techniques were not obtained due to technical difficulties we faced, we believe the material presented in this paper provides at least a good strategy for the complete understanding of this physical phenomenon. Furthermore the techniques shown, which remain current and promising, can be used in different problems, sudy as the construction of interacting fields at a finite temperature. (AU)