Quantum vacuum emission from a refractive-index front
Abstract
A moving boundary separating two otherwise homogeneous regions of a dielectric is known to emit radiation from the quantum vacuum. An analytical framework based on the Hopfield model, describing a moving refractive-index step in 1+1 dimensions for realistic dispersive media has been developed by S. Finazzi and I. Carusotto [Phys. Rev. A 87, 023803 (2013)]. We expand the use of this model to calculate explicitly spectra of all modes of positive and negative norms. Furthermore, for lower step heights we obtain a unique set of mode configurations encompassing black-hole and white-hole setups. This leads to a realistic emission spectrum featuring black-hole and white-hole emission for different frequencies. We also present spectra as measured in the laboratory frame that include all modes, in particular a dominant negative-norm mode, which is the partner mode in any Hawking-type emission. We find that the emission spectrum is highly structured into intervals of emission with black-hole, white-hole, and no horizons. Finally, we estimate the number of photons emitted as a function of the step height and find a power law of 2.5 for low step heights.
Citation
Jacquet , M J R & Koenig , F E W 2015 , ' Quantum vacuum emission from a refractive-index front ' , Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics , vol. 92 , 023851 . https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.92.023851
Publication
Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1050-2947Type
Journal article
Description
The authors would like to acknowledge useful discussions with S. Finazzi and R. Parentani, as well as support from EPSRC via Grant No. EP/L505079/1.Collections
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