Motion-induced particle creation from a finite-temperature state -: art. no. 043820

We investigate the phenomenon of quantum radiation-i.e., the conversion of (virtual) quantum fluctuations into (real) particles induced by dynamical external conditions-for an initial thermal equilibrium state. For a resonantly vibrating cavity a rather strong enhancement of the number of generated particles (the dynamical Casimir effect) at finite temperatures is observed. Furthermore we derive the temperature corrections to the energy radiated by a single moving mirror and an oscillating bubble within a dielectric medium as well as the number of created particles within the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. Possible implications and the relevance for experimental tests are addressed.