AD GRAVITAS: An Exploration of the Unruh Effect in Particle Physics

Explore the fascinating world of particle physics in this lecture on the Unruh effect presented by Morgan Henry Lynch at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. Delve into the unexpected intersection of classical general relativity and quantum field theory, which leads to thermodynamic particle production. Discover how empty space can appear to contain a thermal bath of particles when observed from an accelerated reference frame. Learn about the Rindler horizon and its connection to Unruh radiation, as well as the Fulling-Davies-Unruh temperature. Examine the groundbreaking high-energy channeling experiments conducted by the NA63 collaboration at CERN, which have provided the first observational evidence of the Unruh effect. Gain insights into the various aspects of acceleration-induced thermality measured in these experiments and their implications for our understanding of fundamental physics.