Time refraction and the quantum properties of vacuum

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2005

Authors

Mendonca, JT (Author) Other; Guerreiro, A (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Vol. 72

ISSN: 1050-2947

Publisher: American Physical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 38 Citations

Scopus - 39 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Physical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-0C8

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.72.063805

Abstract (EN): We present the classical and quantum theory of time refraction in a generic nonstationary medium. The classical approach leads to expressions for the temporal refraction coefficient, and the temporal Fresnel laws are given. The quantum formulation leads to the derivation of instantaneous Bogoliubov transformations and the evaluation of the number of photon pairs created from vacuum by the temporal changes in the medium. The influence of boundary conditions, the connection of this model with the dynamical Casimir effect, and radiation from superluminal nonaccelerated optical boundaries is also discussed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8