Classical Physics of Thermal Scalar Radiation in Two Spacetime Dimensions

Abstract

Thermal scalar radiation in two spacetime dimensions is treated within relativistic classical physics. Part I involves an inertial frame where are given the analogues both of Boltzmann's derivation of the Stefan-Boltzmann law and also Wien's derivation of the displacement theorem using the scaling of relativitic radiation theory. Next the spectrum of classical scalar zero-point radiation in an inertial frame is derived both from scale invariance and from Lorentz invariance. Part II involves the behavior of thermal radiation in a coordinate frame undergoing (relativistic) constant acceleration, a Rindler frame. The radiation normal modes in a Rindler frame are obtained. The classical zero-point radiation of inertial frames is transformed over to the coordinates of a Rindler frame. Although for zero-point radiation the two-field correlation function at different spatial points at a single time is the same between inertial and Rindler frames, the correlation function at two different times at a single Rindler spatial coordinate is different, and has a natural extension to non-zero temperature. The thermal spectrum in the Rindler frame is then transferred back to an inertial frame, giving the familar Planck spectrum.

31 pages

References in corpus (5)

• The Unruh effect and its applications
• Blackbody Radiation and the Scaling Symmetry of Relativistic Classical Electron Theory with Classical Electromagnetic Zero-Point Radiation
• Derivation of the Planck Spectrum for Relativistic Classical Scalar Radiation from Thermal Equilibrium in an Accelerating Frame
• Scaling Symmetries of Scatterers of Classical Zero-Point Radiation
• Classical and Quantum Interpretations Regarding Thermal Behavior in a Coordinate Frame Accelerating Through Zero-Point Radiation

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Blackbody Radiation in Classical Physics: A Historical Perspective
• Any Classical Description of Nature Requires Classical Electromagnetic Zero-Point Radiation
• The Blackbody Radiation Spectrum Follows from Zero-Point Radiation and the Structure of Relativistic Spacetime in Classical Physics
• Understanding the Planck Blackbody Spectrum and Landau Diamagnetism within Classical Electromagnetism
• Classical Zero-Point Radiation and Relativity: The Problem of Atomic Collapse Revisited
• Contrasting Classical and Quantum Vacuum States in Non-Inertial Frames
• Scaling, Scattering, and Blackbody Radiation in Classical Physics