n this series of papers we substantially extend investigations of Israel and Kandrup on nonequilibrium statistical mechanics in the framework of special relativity. This is the first one devoted to the general mathematical structure. Basing on the action-at-a-distance formalism we obtain a single-time Liouville equation. This equation describes the manifestly covariant evolution of the distribution function of full classical many-body systems. For such global evolution the Bogoliubov functional assumption is justified. In particular, using the Balescu-Wallenborn projection operator approach we find that the distribution function of full many-body systems is completely determined by the reduced one-body distribution function. A manifestly covariant closed nonlinear equation satisfied by the reduced one-body distribution function is rigorously derived. We also discuss extensively the generalization to the general relativity especially an application to self-gravitating systems.
n this series of papers we substantially extend investigations of Israel and Kandrup on nonequilibrium statistical mechanics in the framework of special relativity. This is the first one devoted to the general mathematical structure. Basing on the action-at-a-distance formalism we obtain a single-time Liouville equation. This equation describes the manifestly covariant evolution of the distribution function of full classical many-body systems. For such global evolution the Bogoliubov functional assumption is justified. In particular, using the Balescu-Wallenborn projection operator approach we find that the distribution function of full many-body systems is completely determined by the reduced one-body distribution function. A manifestly covariant closed nonlinear equation satisfied by the reduced one-body distribution function is rigorously derived. We also discuss extensively the generalization to the general relativity especially an application to self-gravitating systems.
For a system described in a phase space of generalized coordinates w and momenta J, the generalized master equation gives the time evolution of the reduced-density distribution function ρ(t, J) for the momenta. A generalization of the generalized master equation, having a similar non-Markoffian form, is derived for the full distribution function ρ(t, w, J). This equation is an alternate form of the Liouville equation. The derivation is an extension of a previous derivation of the generalized master equation from the Liouville equation utilizing projection operators in a Hilbert space. The time-evolution equation for the reduced distribution function ρr(t, wr, J), depending on the subset wr of the set of coordinates w, is derived. The approach to a stationary state for t → ∞ is discussed.
Recently, a number of authors have begun to study the evolution of quantum fields in the early Universe characterized by a time-dependent density matrix ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$(t). All of this work is predicated on the assumption that one's ``subsystem'' of interest is in some sense ``decoupled'' from the rest of the Universe, so that ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ satisfies a Liouville--von Neumann equation which implies, e.g., an isentropic evolution. Starting from ``first principles,'' i.e., the Schr\"odinger equation for the totality of ``subsystem'' plus surroundings (``bath''), it is shown here how such a picture can be derived as the limiting case of a more complete statistical description. Quite generally, one finds that ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ and the ``bath'' density matrix ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{B}$ satisfy coupled nonlinear generalizations of the Liouville--von Neumann equation and evidence a nonisentropic evolution. However, in a Vlasov-type approximation, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{B}$ satisfy instead much simpler bilinear equations which imply an isentropic evolution. And finally, in the limit that the ``back reaction'' of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ on ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{B}$ can be neglected in computing the evolution of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{B}$, one recovers a true Liouville--von Neumann equation for the evolution of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ in an external field.
This is the first of a series of papers which describe the functional-integral approach to the study of the statistical and kinetic properties of nonequilibrium quantum fields in flat and curved spacetimes. In this paper we treat a system of self-interacting bosons described by \ensuremath{\lambda}${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ scalar fields in flat space. We adopt the closed-time-path (CTP or ``in-in'') functional formalism and use a two-particle irreducible (2PI) representation for the effective action. These formalisms allow for a full account of the dynamics of quantum fields, and put the correlation functions on an equal footing with the mean fields. By assuming a thermal distribution we recover the real-time finite-temperature theory as a special case. By requiring the CTP effective action to be stationary with respect to variations of the correlation functions we obtain an infinite set of coupled equations which is the quantum-field-theoretical generalization of the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon (BBGKY) hierarchy. Truncation of this series leads to dissipative characteristics in the subsystem. In this context we discuss the nature of dissipation in interacting quantum fields.To one-loop order in a perturbative expansion of the CTP effective action, the 2PI formalism yields results equivalent to the leading 1/N expansion for an O(N)-symmetric scalar field. To higher-loop order we introduce a two-time approximation to separate the quantum-field effects of radiative correction and renormalization from the statistical-kinetic effects of collisions and relaxation. In the weak-coupling quasiuniform limit, the system of nonequilibrium quantum fields can subscribe to a kinetic theory description wherein the propagators are represented in terms of relativistic Wigner distribution functions. From a two-loop calculation we derive the Boltzmann equation for the distribution function and the gap equation for the effective mass of the quasiparticles. One can define an entropy function for the quantum gas of quasiparticles which satisfies the H theorem. We also calculate the limits to the validity of the binary collision approximation from a three-loop analysis. The theoretical framework established here can be generalized to nonconstant background fields and for curved spacetimes.
By means of a quantum mechanical phase space distribution function
introduced by von Roos, the Schroedinger equation for a non-relativistic
system of N identical particles with scalar interactions is transformed
into a quantum mechanical generalization of the Liouville equation,
thereby formulating the problem in terms of a generalized density in
phase space, a quantity of primary interest in most treatments of the
corresponding classical system (or plasma). This transformation permits
a parallel development of the theories of classical and quantum plasmas
and thus allows the quantum many-body problem to be discussed virtually
completely in classical terms. In particular, a kinetic theory of
quantum plasmas is obtained by deriving the quantum analogue of the BBGKY
hierarchy, and applying thereto approximation techniques similar to those
of Rostocker and Rosenbluth, and Bogoliubov. The point of departure from
similar previous studies based on the Wigner distribution function is that
the proper exchange symmetry can be tractably introduced into the formalism. Attention is first focused on the Hartree and Hartree-Fock approximations,
in which case the quantum BBGKY system reduces to a simple quantum
generalization of the Vlasov equation. This equation is used to study
the response of spatially homogeneous systems to weak external forces,
and the associated problems of plasmon and spin-wave excitations. It is
also used to derive the quantum and exchange corrected equations of
inviscid hydrodynamical transport which are then applied to the problem
of sound propagation in the degenerate electron gas. The second part of the study is concerned with the theory of the
many-electron atom in the Hartree and Hartree-Fock approximations.
The relevant quantum Vlasov equations lead naturally to a statistical
theory of the atom which reduces to the Thomas-Fermi-Amaldi and Thomas Fermi
models (respectively) as ħ → 0. For ħ ≠ 0, the quantum and
exchange corrections to these models are simultaneously generated. The
quantum hydrodynamical theory developed earlier is used to determine
the influence of these corrections on the boundary conditions of the
model, and a theory of the compressed atom is consequently obtained.
Considered in somewhat less detail are the effects of non-zero temperature,
net orbital angular momentum, relativity and correlations, as well as
time dependent processes. The final part deals with the problem of the degenerate electron
gas with a uniform neutralizing background. Going beyond the Hartree-Fock approximation, the pair functions for particles with
parallel and anti-parallel spin are obtained by neglecting three particle
correlations. From these functions, a quantum-mechanical collision
integral is derived which differs from that obtained by Silin
and Guernsey and conjectured by Wyld and Pines in that dynamical exchange
effects are included. Also obtained from the pair function
is an expression for the correlation which reduces in the high
density limit to the result of Gell-Mann and Brueckner. At intermediate
densities an additional term appears in the energy due to the screening
of the exchange interaction by the dielectric properties of the medium.
It is evaluated in the high density limit and found to be -0.151 r_s ln r_s
Ryd/electron in marked disagreement with the corresponding value obtained
by DuBois.
Equations for correlation functions in nonequilibrium systems are derived using a generalization of the diagrammatic Keldysh method. The four field operators of the correlation function are ordered on a time contour that consists of four axes extending from -\ensuremath{\infty} to +\ensuremath{\infty} and from +\ensuremath{\infty} to -\ensuremath{\infty} (doubled Keldysh contour). For those correlation functions that may be considered as correlation functions of one-particle Green-functions' fluctuations, a closed system of equations is obtained in the case of weak interaction of the particles with the scattering system. Its structure may be related to the Langevin approach: on the left-hand side a linear operator acts on each of two pairs of the correlation-function arguments, each of these two operators being just the operator of the linearized quantum kinetic equation. The expression for the right-hand side of this equation is derived. It has the meaning of the correlation function of extraneous Langevin sources, and the equation may be called the quantum Boltzmann-Langevin equation. In the quasi-classical limit it reduces to the usual Boltzmann-Langevin equation for the particles' distribution-function fluctuations. Possible applications of the method are discussed.
This thesis investigates the rigorous derivation of non-linear effective equations describing the time evolution of Bose-Einstein condensation from the N-particle linear Schrödinger equation, focusing on the one-particle reduced density matrix. The first chapter outlines the mathematical framework of many-body quantum mechanics, including the Fock space formalism. The second chapter studies the mean-field regime, proving that the condensed state converges to the non-linear Hartree equation by analyzing fluctuation dynamics to quantify the convergence rate. The third chapter addresses the physically realistic but mathematically challenging Gross-Pitaevskii regime, characterized by rare but strong interactions. Here, Bogoliubov transformations are used to capture crucial microscopic short-scale correlations, allowing for a quantitative derivation of the cubic non-linear Schrödinger equation. While the preceding chapters focus exclusively on repulsive interactions, the fourth chapter explores the focusing case with attractive potentials, which can lead to finite-time blow-up. Operating in an intermediate scaling regime, the effective focusing cubic non-linear Schrödinger equation is rigorously derived. Since the negative energy cannot bound many-body fluctuations, convergence is proven by approximating the dynamics via a quadratic Hamiltonian, in the spirit of Bogoliubov theory, and avoiding Grönwall estimates through the analysis of a coupled system of one-body linear equations for the one-particle density matrices.