We consider an Unruh-DeWitt type monopole detector theory for the massless scalar field in (3+1)-dimensional space-time. In this model the detector is accelerated via the interaction at a point with the massless scalar field only. The consistency between the uniform acceleration and the vacuum background as well as the potential for the monopole moment is examined at the classical level. Then we calculate the radiation from the accelerated detector. We find that the Unruh effect on the monopole moment reflects the quantum uncertainty of the detector to the radiation in a way consistent with the fact that the radiation vanishes in the static limit.

• Received 21 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.68.104019