On the emission of radiation by an isolated vibrating metallic mirror

Abstract

Quantum electrodynamics predicts the appearance of radiation in an empty cavity in which one of the mirrors is vibrating. It also predicts the appearance of radiation from an isolated vibrating mirror. Such effects can be described within the framework of classical electrodynamics. We present the qualitative explanation of the effect, along with the results of numerical simulation of the emission of radiation by an isolated vibrating metallic mirror, which can be induced by mirror illumination by an ultrashort pulse of light. The dynamics of conduction electrons in the metallic mirror is described by the classical Drude model. Simulation was performed for the cases of mirror illumination by either a bipolar or a unipolar pulse.