Thermality & Nonthermality of Radiation in Curved Spacetimes

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In summary, thermality and nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes refers to the behavior of electromagnetic radiation in the presence of curved space. In thermality, the radiation follows the standard laws of thermodynamics, while in nonthermality, it deviates from these laws due to the effects of curved space. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding the behavior of radiation in extreme environments, such as near black holes, and is an important concept in the study of general relativity and cosmology.
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I have been reading some material related to the thermal and non-thermal features of Hawking-Unruh radiation. It seems some authors label any radiation that emanates within curved spacetimes (including non-inertial frames) either as non-thermal or approximately thermal if it doesn't follow a typical Planckian character, which in other words means it is hard to associate a characteristic temperature with the radiation. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.025023, https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2015)009. On the other hand, some associate thermality with the radiation even if it doesn't display Planckian feautures. In one of the papers, e.g., https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.11933 , authors say the thermality is when an Unruh-DeWitt detector asymptotically reaches a Gibbs thermal state (with connections to Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition) without having anything to do with Planckian distribution. I am totally confused how to draw the line between thermality and non-thermality of acceleration/Hawking radiation.
 
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Moderator's note: Moved thread to relativity forum and marked thread level as "A".
 

FAQ: Thermality & Nonthermality of Radiation in Curved Spacetimes

What is the difference between thermality and nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes?

Thermality refers to the property of a system being in thermal equilibrium, where the energy distribution follows a specific pattern. Nonthermality, on the other hand, refers to a system that is not in thermal equilibrium and has a non-uniform energy distribution.

How does the curvature of spacetime affect the thermality of radiation?

The curvature of spacetime can affect the thermality of radiation in several ways. In curved spacetimes, the energy distribution of radiation may not follow the expected thermal distribution due to the presence of gravitational fields. Additionally, the curvature can also affect the propagation of radiation, leading to changes in its energy distribution.

Can nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes be observed in real-world scenarios?

Yes, nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes has been observed in various astrophysical phenomena, such as black holes and neutron stars. These objects have strong gravitational fields that can significantly affect the thermality of radiation.

How do scientists study the thermality and nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes?

Scientists use various mathematical models and theoretical frameworks, such as general relativity, to study the behavior of radiation in curved spacetimes. They also use observational data from telescopes and other instruments to analyze the energy distribution of radiation in different astrophysical scenarios.

What are the implications of understanding the thermality and nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes?

Understanding the thermality and nonthermality of radiation in curved spacetimes is crucial for our understanding of the behavior of energy in the universe. It can help us explain various astrophysical phenomena, such as the formation and evolution of galaxies, and also has implications for our understanding of fundamental physics theories, such as general relativity and quantum mechanics.

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