Optimal quantum estimation of the Unruh-Hawking effect.

Optimal quantum estimation of the Unruh-Hawking effect.

Seminar author:Mariona Aspachs

Event date and time:02/28/2011 09:00:am

Event location:IFAE Seminar room

Event contact:

The Unruh effect is one of the most fundamental manifestation of the fact that the particle content of a field theory is observer dependent. We will address on general quantum-statistical grounds the problem of optimal detection of the Unruh-Hawking effect. The effect signatures are magnified up to potentially observable levels if the scalar field to be probed has high mean energy from an inertial perspective: The Unruh-Hawking effect acts like an amplification channel. We will see that the optimal strategy is provided by Fock inertial state, probed via photon counting by a non-inertial detector, attaining the ultimate sensitivity allowed by quantum mechanics for the observation of the effect. The parameter regime in which the effect can be reliably revealed in laboratory experiments will be also discussed.