title: Detectability of dissipative motion in quantum vacuum via superradiance.
abstract: We propose an experiment for generating and detecting vacuum-induced dissipative motion. A high frequency mechanical resonator driven in resonance is expected to dissipate mechanical energy in quantum vacuum via photon emission. The photons are stored in a high quality electromagnetic cavity and detected through their interaction with ultracold alkali-metal atoms prepared in an inverted population of hyperfine states. Superradiant amplification of the generated photons results in a detectable radio-frequency signal temporally distinguishable from the expected background.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, 6127 Wilder Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Woo-Joong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: James Hayden
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Onofrio