On the Response of Particle Detectors in Vaidya Spacetimes

Abstract

Using the formalism of the interaction picture we calculate an expression for the Wightman function for only the spherically symmetric modes of a quantum Klein-Gordon scalar field in a general Vaidya spacetime with ingoing null dust. It is demonstrated that particle detectors following time-like trajectories that are in the ground state at some time outside of the collapsing shell will respond independently from the configuration of the ingoing null dust if the response is taken at any time outside of the collapsing shell. For detectors that are taken to be in the ground state at a time interior to the shell it is shown that their response will depend on the configuration of the ingoing null dust. Relevance to the information loss paradox is discussed.