On an inertial observer's interpretation of the detection of radiation by linearly accelerated particle detectors

Abstract

The detection of radiation by linearly accelerated particle detectors is discussed from the point of view of an inertial observer. An alternative interpretation to that of Unruh (1976), is presented. It is argued that the main physical effect is the emission of negative energy (as compared with Minkowski space) by the detector. This is shown to be the only important effect for 'macroscopic' detectors.