Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2511.09580

Fermi-Dirac Wigner function for massive spin-1/2 particles in local equilibrium

Sudip Kumar Kar, Valeriya Mykhaylova

quant-phhep-phnucl-thSubmitted Nov 12, 2025• Announced Nov 13, 2025
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A recently proposed Boltzmann local equilibrium Wigner function for massive spin-1/2 particles is generalized to the case of Fermi-Dirac statistics. The resulting formula ensures the correct normalization of the mean polarization vector and reproduces the generalized thermodynamic relations with spin that were obtained in earlier studies. Moreover, we show that the macroscopic currents constructed from the Fermi-Dirac Wigner function can be obtained as derivatives of a suitably defined generating function with respect to the Lagrange multipliers (temperature, hydrodynamic flow, and chemical potentials). The identified generating function also indicates that the underlying framework can be classified as a divergence-type theory.

Related papers

Local equilibrium Wigner function for spin-1/2 particles

Samapan Bhadury, Zbigniew Drogosz, Wojciech Florkowski +2 more

Formal connections between the spin density matrix and the Wigner function for spin-1/2 particles forming a relativistic gas are explored to determine their general structures. They suggest that the commonly used form of the local equilibrium Wigner function should be replaced by a new expression. The latter fulfills the necessary condition for the normalization of the mean spin polarization, which the former fails to reproduce. The new definition of the Wigner function leads to generalized thermodynamic relations for perfect spin hydrodynamics, identical to those obtained earlier using the classical concept of spin. Moreover, one can prove that the perfect spin hydrodynamics based on the new equilibrium Wigner function is nonlinearly causal and stable. Finally, the selection rule for the Lagrange multipliers, which is satisfied by real systems, is discussed.

arXiv:2505.02657•May 5, 2025•0 citations

A UNIFIED DESCRIPTION OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF FERMI LIQUIDS

N. Dupuis

In Landau's phenomenological Fermi-liquid theory (FLT), most physical quantities are derived from the knowledge of the energy variation δE[δn] corresponding to a change δn of the quasi-particle (QP) distribution function n≡{nkσ}. We show that the internal energy E[n] (or, more precisely, the thermodynamic potential Φ[n]), expressed as a function of the QP distribution n, can be interpreted as an effective potential (in the sense of field theory), which is obtained from the free energy by a Legendre transformation. This allows to obtain explicitly δΦ (or δE) starting from a microscopic Hamiltonian and to relate the Landau f function to the forward-scattering two-particle vertex without considering the collective modes as in the standard diagrammatic derivation of FLT. Out-of-equilibrium properties are obtained by extending the definition of the effective potential to space- and time-dependent configurations. Φ[n] is then a functional of the Wigner distribution function n≡{nkσ (r,t)}. It contains information about both the static and dynamic properties of the Fermi liquid. In particular, it yields the quantum Boltzmann equation satisfied by nkσ (r, t). Finally, we show how δΦ[δn] can be derived (in the static case) using a finite-temperature renormalization-group approach. In agreement with previous results based on this technique, we find that the Landau f function is defined by the fixed-point value of the Ω-limit of the forward-scattering two-particle vertex.

arXiv:cond-mat/9901100•International Journal of Modern Physics B•Feb 10, 2000•3 citations

Quantum Boltzmann equation for spin-dependent reactions in the kinetic regime

Martin L R Fürst, Markus Kotulla, Christian B. Mendl +1 more

We derive and analyze an effective quantum Boltzmann equation in the kinetic regime for the interactions of four distinguishable types of fermionic spin- particles, starting from a general quantum field Hamiltonian. Each particle type is described by a time-dependent, 2 × 2 spin-density ('Wigner') matrix. We show that density and energy conservation laws as well as the H-theorem hold, and enumerate additional conservation laws depending on the interaction. The conserved quantities characterize the thermal (Fermi–Dirac) equilibrium state. We illustrate the approach to equilibrium by numerical simulations in the isotropic three-dimensional setting.

arXiv:1411.2576•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Feb 10, 2015•2 citations

Quantum kinetic theory and dissipative spin hydrodynamics

Wagner, David

This thesis provides a detailed derivation of dissipative spin hydrodynamics from quantum field theory for systems composed of spin-0, spin-1/2, or spin-1 particles. The Wigner function formalism is introduced for quantum fields in the respective representations of the Poincaré group, and the conserved currents, i.e., the energy-momentum tensor and the total angular momentum tensor, in various so-called pseudogauges are derived. An expansion around the semiclassical limit in powers of the Planck constant is performed. Subsequently, kinetic equations are obtained for binary elastic scattering, using both the de Groot-van Leeuwen-van Weert and Kadanoff-Baym method, with the latter retaining the effect of quantum statistics. The resulting collision term features both local and nonlocal contributions, with the latter providing a relaxation mechanism for the spin degrees of freedom of the quasiparticles. The local-equilibrium distribution function is derived from the requirement that the local part of the collision term vanishes. From quantum kinetic theory, dissipative spin hydrodynamics is then constructed via the method of moments, extended to particles with spin. The system of moment equations is closed via the Inverse-Reynolds Dominance (IReD) approach, resulting in a set of equations of motion describing the evolution of both ideal and dissipative degrees of freedom. The application to polarization phenomena relevant to heavy-ion collisions is discussed.

•Jan 1, 2024•0 citations

Finite-Temperature Transport Properties of Normal Fermi Systems. I. The General Transport Equation

Pierre M. V. Résibois

We express the response of a normal Fermi system to a weak external charge in terms of a one-particle Wigner distribution function which obeys a generalized transport equation valid at all temperatures. The derivation of this transport equation is closely related to the method developed by Prigogine and co-workers in nonequilibrium situations, both classical and quantum; it is based on a reclassification of the perturbation expansion of the autocorrelation formula expressing the response. The proof is greatly facilitated by the use of a suitable diagram technique which describes both the dynamical processes in the system as well as the effect of the interactions on equilibrium properties; full advantage is taken of the contraction theorem for averages over the unperturbed equilibrium ensemble.

Physical Review•Apr 12, 1965•23 citations

Effect of symmetry in the many-particle Wigner function

E. Cancellieri, Paolo Bordone, Carlo Jacoboni

An analysis of the Wigner function for identical particles is presented. Four situations have been considered. (i) The first is scattering process between two indistinguishable particles described by a minimum uncertainty wave packets showing the exchange and correlation effects in Wigner phase space. (ii) An equilibrium ensemble of $N$ particles in a one-dimensional box and in a one-dimensional harmonic potential is considered second, showing that the reduced one-particle Wigner function, as a function of the energy defined in the Wigner phase space, tends to the Fermi-Dirac or to the Bose-Einstein distribution function, depending on the considered statistics. (iii) The third situation is reduced one-particle transport equation for the Wigner function, in the case of interacting particles, showing the need for the two-particle reduced Wigner function within the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy scheme. (iv) Finally, the electron-phonon interaction in the two-particle case is considered, showing coparticipation of two electrons in the interaction with the phonon bath.

Physical Review B•Dec 4, 2007•12 citations
A recently proposed Boltzmann local equilibrium Wigner function for massive spin-1/2 particles is generalized to the case of Fermi-Dirac statistics. The resulting formula ensures the correct normalization of the mean polarization vector and reproduces the generalized thermodynamic relations with spin that were obtained in earlier studies. Moreover, we show that the macroscopic currents constructed from the Fermi-Dirac Wigner function can be obtained as derivatives of a suitably defined generating function with respect to the Lagrange multipliers (temperature, hydrodynamic flow, and chemical potentials). The identified generating function also indicates that the underlying framework can be classified as a divergence-type theory.
Formal connections between the spin density matrix and the Wigner function for spin-1/2 particles forming a relativistic gas are explored to determine their general structures. They suggest that the commonly used form of the local equilibrium Wigner function should be replaced by a new expression. The latter fulfills the necessary condition for the normalization of the mean spin polarization, which the former fails to reproduce. The new definition of the Wigner function leads to generalized thermodynamic relations for perfect spin hydrodynamics, identical to those obtained earlier using the classical concept of spin. Moreover, one can prove that the perfect spin hydrodynamics based on the new equilibrium Wigner function is nonlinearly causal and stable. Finally, the selection rule for the Lagrange multipliers, which is satisfied by real systems, is discussed.
In Landau's phenomenological Fermi-liquid theory (FLT), most physical quantities are derived from the knowledge of the energy variation δE[δn] corresponding to a change δn of the quasi-particle (QP) distribution function n≡{nkσ}. We show that the internal energy E[n] (or, more precisely, the thermodynamic potential Φ[n]), expressed as a function of the QP distribution n, can be interpreted as an effective potential (in the sense of field theory), which is obtained from the free energy by a Legendre transformation. This allows to obtain explicitly δΦ (or δE) starting from a microscopic Hamiltonian and to relate the Landau f function to the forward-scattering two-particle vertex without considering the collective modes as in the standard diagrammatic derivation of FLT. Out-of-equilibrium properties are obtained by extending the definition of the effective potential to space- and time-dependent configurations. Φ[n] is then a functional of the Wigner distribution function n≡{nkσ (r,t)}. It contains information about both the static and dynamic properties of the Fermi liquid. In particular, it yields the quantum Boltzmann equation satisfied by nkσ (r, t). Finally, we show how δΦ[δn] can be derived (in the static case) using a finite-temperature renormalization-group approach. In agreement with previous results based on this technique, we find that the Landau f function is defined by the fixed-point value of the Ω-limit of the forward-scattering two-particle vertex.
We derive and analyze an effective quantum Boltzmann equation in the kinetic regime for the interactions of four distinguishable types of fermionic spin- particles, starting from a general quantum field Hamiltonian. Each particle type is described by a time-dependent, 2 × 2 spin-density ('Wigner') matrix. We show that density and energy conservation laws as well as the H-theorem hold, and enumerate additional conservation laws depending on the interaction. The conserved quantities characterize the thermal (Fermi–Dirac) equilibrium state. We illustrate the approach to equilibrium by numerical simulations in the isotropic three-dimensional setting.
This thesis provides a detailed derivation of dissipative spin hydrodynamics from quantum field theory for systems composed of spin-0, spin-1/2, or spin-1 particles. The Wigner function formalism is introduced for quantum fields in the respective representations of the Poincaré group, and the conserved currents, i.e., the energy-momentum tensor and the total angular momentum tensor, in various so-called pseudogauges are derived. An expansion around the semiclassical limit in powers of the Planck constant is performed. Subsequently, kinetic equations are obtained for binary elastic scattering, using both the de Groot-van Leeuwen-van Weert and Kadanoff-Baym method, with the latter retaining the effect of quantum statistics. The resulting collision term features both local and nonlocal contributions, with the latter providing a relaxation mechanism for the spin degrees of freedom of the quasiparticles. The local-equilibrium distribution function is derived from the requirement that the local part of the collision term vanishes. From quantum kinetic theory, dissipative spin hydrodynamics is then constructed via the method of moments, extended to particles with spin. The system of moment equations is closed via the Inverse-Reynolds Dominance (IReD) approach, resulting in a set of equations of motion describing the evolution of both ideal and dissipative degrees of freedom. The application to polarization phenomena relevant to heavy-ion collisions is discussed.
We express the response of a normal Fermi system to a weak external charge in terms of a one-particle Wigner distribution function which obeys a generalized transport equation valid at all temperatures. The derivation of this transport equation is closely related to the method developed by Prigogine and co-workers in nonequilibrium situations, both classical and quantum; it is based on a reclassification of the perturbation expansion of the autocorrelation formula expressing the response. The proof is greatly facilitated by the use of a suitable diagram technique which describes both the dynamical processes in the system as well as the effect of the interactions on equilibrium properties; full advantage is taken of the contraction theorem for averages over the unperturbed equilibrium ensemble.
An analysis of the Wigner function for identical particles is presented. Four situations have been considered. (i) The first is scattering process between two indistinguishable particles described by a minimum uncertainty wave packets showing the exchange and correlation effects in Wigner phase space. (ii) An equilibrium ensemble of NNN particles in a one-dimensional box and in a one-dimensional harmonic potential is considered second, showing that the reduced one-particle Wigner function, as a function of the energy defined in the Wigner phase space, tends to the Fermi-Dirac or to the Bose-Einstein distribution function, depending on the considered statistics. (iii) The third situation is reduced one-particle transport equation for the Wigner function, in the case of interacting particles, showing the need for the two-particle reduced Wigner function within the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy scheme. (iv) Finally, the electron-phonon interaction in the two-particle case is considered, showing coparticipation of two electrons in the interaction with the phonon bath.