N-Photon Emission from Uniform Acceleration

Abstract

We present a generalized framework for $n$-photon processes involving a uniformly accelerated Unruh-DeWitt detector interacting with a massless scalar field. We utilize the $n^{\text{th}}$ order Dyson series to derive the final quantum state for an arbitrary number of interactions. Our analysis covers both even-order processes, which return the detector to its initial state, and odd-order processes, which result in a change of the detector's state. By employing a unified formalism and performing a complete, time-ordered integration, we obtain exact analytical expressions for the $n$-photon states. The results reveal a rich structure of resonant denominators corresponding to multi-particle processes, including new field-mediated resonances independent of the detector's energy gap for $n>2$. Crucially, the analysis of odd-order transitions reveals an exponential factor, $\exp (-\pi \omega /a)$, characteristic of the Unruh thermal bath. By considering processes starting from the detector's excited state, we demonstrate that the ratio of excitation to de-excitation amplitudes precisely recovers the Boltzmann factor, providing a higher-order confirmation of thermal detailed balance for the Unruh effect. This work provides a unified tool for studying multipartite entanglement and thermal phenomena in non-inertial frames.

11 pages, 2 figures, V2: PRD version

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