Critical Acceleration and Quantum Vacuum
Abstract
Little is known about the physics frontier of strong acceleration; both classical and quantum physics need further development in order to be able to address this newly accessible area of physics. In this lecture we discuss what strong acceleration means and possible experiments using electron-laser collisions and, data available from ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. We review the foundations of the current understanding of charged particle dynamics in presence of critical forces and discuss the radiation reaction inconsistency in electromagnetic theory and the apparent relation with quantum physics and strong field particle production phenomena. The role of the quantum vacuum as an inertial reference frame is emphasized, as well as the absence of such a `Machian' reference frame in the conventional classical limit of quantum field theory.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1204.4923,
title = {Critical Acceleration and Quantum Vacuum},
author = {Johann Rafelski and Lance Labun},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.4923},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
12 pages, 1 figure, for the proceedings of the First LeCosPA Symposium, February 2012