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arXiv:1903.03489 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

Contour calculus for many-particle functions

M J Hyrkäs, Daniel Karlsson, Robert van Leeuwen

Published Apr 5, 2019• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract In non-equilibrium many-body perturbation theory, Langreth rules are an efficient way to extract real-time equations from contour ones. However, the standard rules are not applicable in cases that do not reduce to simple convolutions and multiplications. We introduce a procedure for extracting real-time equations from general multi-argument contour functions with an arbitrary number of arguments. This is done for both the standard Keldysh contour, as well as the extended contour with a vertical track that allows for general initial states. This amounts to the generalization of the standard Langreth rules to much more general situations. These rules involve multi-argument retarded functions as key ingredients, for which we derive intuitive graphical rules. We apply our diagrammatic recipe to derive Langreth rules for the so-called double triangle structure and the general vertex function, relevant for the study of vertex corrections beyond the GW approximation.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8121/ab165d

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Abstract In non-equilibrium many-body perturbation theory, Langreth rules are an efficient way to extract real-time equations from contour ones. However, the standard rules are not applicable in cases that do not reduce to simple convolutions and multiplications. We introduce a procedure for extracting real-time equations from general multi-argument contour functions with an arbitrary number of arguments. This is done for both the standard Keldysh contour, as well as the extended contour with a vertical track that allows for general initial states. This amounts to the generalization of the standard Langreth rules to much more general situations. These rules involve multi-argument retarded functions as key ingredients, for which we derive intuitive graphical rules. We apply our diagrammatic recipe to derive Langreth rules for the so-called double triangle structure and the general vertex function, relevant for the study of vertex corrections beyond the GW approximation.
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.
We present a unified framework for equilibrium and nonequilibrium many-body perturbation theory. The most general nonequilibrium many-body theory valid for general initial states is based on a time-contour originally introduced by Konstantinov and Perel'. The various other well-known formalisms of Keldysh, Matsubara and the zero-temperature formalism are then derived as special cases that arise under different assumptions. We further present a single simple proof of Wick's theorem that is at the same time valid in all these flavors of many-body theory. It arises simply as a solution of the equations of the Martin-Schwinger hierarchy for the noninteracting many-particle Green's function with appropriate boundary conditions. We further discuss a generalized Wick theorem for general initial states on the Keldysh contour and derive how the formalisms based on the Keldysh and Konstantinov-Perel'-contours are related for the case of general initial states.
We present a Green's-function formalism generalized to treat arbitrary time-dependent systems initially prepared with an arbitrary density matrix. On the basis of a simultaneous expansion of the usual real-time development operator and the density matrix, we define a Green's function ordered along an extended contour. In this way we are able to treat real-time many-particle Green's functions and initial correlations on the same footing. Both can be decomposed by Wick's theorem. Thus we may utilize familiar diagrammatic analysis for evaluating the Green's function, and finally arrive at a generalized Dyson's equation. The Green's function can be represented by a (3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3) matrix, which includes the Green's functions used in the Feynman, Matsubara, and Keldysh theories, if the corresponding statistical average is taken. From a matrix representation of Dyson's equation, a basic set of five coupled equations is derived, which explicitly shows the corrections to the Keldysh theory due to an arbitrary initial many-particle density matrix.
The increasing interest in nonequilibrium effects in condensed matter theory motivates the adaption of diverse equilibrium techniques to Keldysh formalism. For methods based on multi-particle Green's or vertex functions, this involves a detailed knowledge of the real-time properties of those functions. In this review, we derive general properties of fermionic and bosonic multi-particle Green's and vertex functions for a stationary state described within Keldysh formalism. Special emphasis is put on the analytic properties associated with causality and on a detailed discussion of the Kubo–Martin–Schwinger conditions which characterize thermal equilibrium. Finally we describe how diagrammatic approximations and approximations within the functional renormalization group approach respect these properties.