Effects of a uniform acceleration on atom–field interactions

Abstract

We review some quantum electrodynamical effects related to the uniform acceleration of atoms in vacuum. After discussing the energy level shifts of a uniformly accelerated atom in vacuum, we investigate the atom–wall Casimir–Polder force for accelerated atoms, and the van der Waals/Casimir–Polder interaction between two accelerated atoms. The possibility of detecting the Unruh effect through these phenomena is also discussed in detail.