The Boltzmann equation from quantum field theory
- 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. We show that the system follows a generalized Boltzmann equation whenever the WKB approximation holds. The generalized Boltzmann equation, which includes off-shell transport, is valid far from equilibrium and in a time dependent background, such as the expanding universe.
Download full text files
Additional Services
| Author: | Marco DrewesORCiDGND, Sebastián MendizabalORCiDGND, Christoph WenigerORCiDGND |
|---|---|
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-769238 |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2012.11.046 |
| ISSN: | 0370-2693 |
| Parent Title (English): | Physics Letters B |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Place of publication: | Amsterdam |
| Document Type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Date of Publication (online): | 2012/11/29 |
| Date of first Publication: | 2012/11/29 |
| Publishing Institution: | Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg |
| Release Date: | 2023/10/05 |
| Volume: | 718.2013 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Page Number: | 6 |
| First Page: | 1119 |
| Last Page: | 1124 |
| HeBIS-PPN: | 513572201 |
| Institutes: | Physik |
| Dewey Decimal Classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik |
| Sammlungen: | Universitätspublikationen |
| Licence (German): |  Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
