Fluctuation and inertia

Abstract

How the principle of inertia survives quantum fluctuations is an interesting question. Smolin has proposed a hypothesis that quantum fluctuations are in fact real statistical fluctuations. In this work, combining the works on Hawking-Unruh radiation and Jacobson's idea in his thermodynamics derivation of Einstein equation, we confirmed Smolin's guess: the quantum fluctuations leading to Hawking-Unruh radiation, satisfying the fluctuation theorem, are statistical fluctuations. Therefore, inertia is found to be a result of the second law of thermodynamics: the principle of entropy increases has the tendency to eliminate the effects of fluctuations and makes accelerated observers express inertia force.