STOCHASTIC-THEORY OF ACCELERATED DETECTORS IN A QUANTUM-FIELD

We analyze the statistical mechanical properties of n detectors in arb itrary states of motion interacting with one another via a quantum fie ld. We use the open system concept and the influence functional method to calculate the influence of quantum fields on detectors in motion, and the mutual influence of detectors via fields. We discuss the diffe rence between self and mutual impedance, advanced and retarded noise, and the relations between noise-correlations and dissipation-propagati on. The mutual effects of detectors on one another can be studied from the Langevin equations derived from the influence functional, as it c ontains the back reaction of the held on the system self-consistently. We show the existence of general fluctuation-dissipation relations, a nd for trajectories without event horizons, correlation-propagation re lations, which succinctly encapsulate these quantum statistical phenom ena. These findings serve to clarify some existing confusions on the a ccelerated detector problem. The general methodology presented here co uld also serve as a platform to explore the quantum statistical proper ties of particles and fields, with practical applications in atomic an d optical physics problems.