2012

The Boltzmann Equation from Quantum Field Theory

Drewes, Marco, Mendizabal, Sebastian, Weniger, Christoph

Understand

We show from first principles the emergence of classical Boltzmann equations from relativistic nonequilibrium quantum field theory as described by the Kadanoff-Baym equations.

  • Our method applies to a generic quantum field, coupled to a collection of background fields and sources, in a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime.
  • The analysis is based on analytical solutions to the full Kadanoff-Baym equations, using the WKB approximation.
  • This is in contrast to previous derivations of kinetic equations that rely on similar physical assumptions, but obtain approximate equations of motion from a gradient expansion in momentum space.

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