  An important question in the derivation of the acceleration radiation, which
also arises in Hawking's derivation of black hole radiance, is the need to
invoke trans-Planckian physics for the quantum field that originates the
created quanta. We point out that this issue can be further clarified by
reconsidering the analysis in terms of particle detectors, transition
probabilities, and local two-point functions. By writing down separate
expressions for the spontaneous- and induced-transition probabilities of a
uniformly accelerated detector, we show that the bulk of the effect comes from
the natural (non trans-Planckian) scale of the problem, which largely
diminishes the importance of the trans-Planckian sector. This is so, at least,
when trans-Planckian physics is defined in a Lorentz invariant way. This
analysis also suggests how to define and estimate the role of trans-Planckian
physics in the Hawking effect itself.
