Conformal Symmetry, Accelerated Observers, and Nonlocality

The acceleration transformations form a 4-parameter Abelian subgroup of the conformal group of Minkowski spacetime. The passive interpretation of acceleration transformations leads to a congruence of uniformly accelerated observers in Minkowski spacetime. The properties of this congruence are studied in order to illustrate the kinematics of accelerated observers in relativistic physics. The generalization of this approach under conformal rescaling of the spacetime metric is examined.

An investigation of some quantum correlations of Dirac fields in noninertial frames

In this paper, some concepts of quantum correlations, such as one-way quantum deficit, purity, and entanglement of formation are investigated between the modes of Dirac fields in noninertial frames. We consider two bipartite divisions of a tripartite system constructed by initial Werner states, which is shared between two relatively accelerated observers. The degradation of these quantum correlations is shown when the acceleration parameter increases. However, a nonzero amount of correlations survives even at infinite acceleration limit. Furthermore, we study the inevitable influence of mixedness factor of initial state on the quantum correlations behaviour. Finally, we review our calculation beyond single-mode approximation and point out some differences and similarities between the two regimes.

Unruh Effect: Introductory notes to quantum effects for accelerated observers

These pedagogical notes are dedicated to a derivation of the Unruh effect. There is a special emphasis on the transparency of the arguments and the exhibition of detailed calculations. We assume the reader has a basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and relativity. The notes can hopefully be used in a self-contained way by advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students.

Introduction

This introductory chapter is mainly about the locality postulate of the standard relativity theory. The fundamental laws of microphysics have been formulated with respect to inertial observers. However, inertial observers do not in fact exist, since actual observers are accelerated. What do accelerated observers measure? Lorentz invariance is extended to accelerated observers by assuming that they are pointwise inertial. That is, an accelerated observer at each instant is equivalent to an otherwise identical momentarily comoving inertial observer. This hypothesis of locality, which underlies the special and general theories of relativity, is described in detail. The locality postulate fits perfectly together with Einstein’s local principle of equivalence to ensure that every observer in a gravitational field is pointwise inertial. When coupled with the hypothesis of locality, Einstein’s principle of equivalence provides a physical basis for a field theory of gravitation that is consistent with local Lorentz invariance.