We present a new perturbative formulation of non-equilibrium thermal field theory, based upon non-homogeneous free propagators and time-dependent vertices. The resulting time-dependent diagrammatic perturbation series are free of pinch singularities without the need for quasi-particle approximation or effective resummation of finite widths. After arriving at a physically meaningful definition of particle number densities, we derive master time evolution equations for statistical distribution functions, which are valid to all orders in perturbation theory and to all orders in a gradient expansion. For a scalar model, we perform a perturbative loopwise truncation of these evolution equations, whilst still capturing fast transient behaviour, which is found to be dominated by energy-violating processes, leading to the non-Markovian evolution of memory effects.We present a new perturbative formulation of non-equilibrium thermal field theory, based upon non-homogeneous free propagators and time-dependent vertices. The resulting time-dependent diagrammatic perturbation series are free of pinch singularities without the need for quasi-particle approximation or effective resummation of finite widths. After arriving at a physically meaningful definition of particle number densities, we derive master time evolution equations for statistical distribution functions, which are valid to all orders in perturbation theory and to all orders in a gradient expansion. For a scalar model, we perform a perturbative loopwise truncation of these evolution equations, whilst still capturing fast transient behaviour, which is found to be dominated by energy-violating processes, leading to the non-Markovian evolution of memory effects.

arXiv:1304.7249Physics Letters BMay 21, 201317 citations

Non-Markovian relaxation of a spin-1/2 particle in a fluctuating transverse field: Cumulant expansion and stochastic simulation results

M. Aihara, Hannah Sevian, James L. Skinner

We consider the relaxation dynamics of a spin-1/2 particle in a fluctuating transverse magnetic field. With a cumulant expansion technique (up to sixth order) we calculate the time dependence of the approach to equilibrium of the population difference of the two spin levels and of the phase coherence. We find that for intermediate strength coupling to the fluctuations, the cumulant expansion converges, and the relaxation to equilibrium can have a pronounced non-Markovian character. We compare these analytic results with numerically exact data from stochastic simulations.We consider the relaxation dynamics of a spin-1/2 particle in a fluctuating transverse magnetic field. With a cumulant expansion technique (up to sixth order) we calculate the time dependence of the approach to equilibrium of the population difference of the two spin levels and of the phase coherence. We find that for intermediate strength coupling to the fluctuations, the cumulant expansion converges, and the relaxation to equilibrium can have a pronounced non-Markovian character. We compare these analytic results with numerically exact data from stochastic simulations.

Physical Review AJun 1, 199032 citations

Aspects of Non-Equilibrium Dynamics in Quantum Field Theory

Da-Shin Lee

Nov 1, 19950 citations

Non-equilibrium statistical field theory for classical particles: Initially correlated grand canonical ensembles

Felix Fabis, Daniel Berg, Elena Kozlikin +1 more

It was recently shown by Bartelmann et al. how correlated initial conditions can be introduced into the statistical field theory for classical particles pioneered by Das and Mazenko. In this paper we extend this development from the canonical to the grand canonical ensemble for a system satisfying statistical homogeneity and isotropy. We do this by translating the probability distribution for the initial phase space coordinates of the particles into an easy diagrammatic representation and then using a variant of the Mayer cluster expansion to sum over particle numbers. The grand canonical generating functional is then used in a structured approach to the derivation of the non-interacting cumulants of the two core collective fields, the density $ρ$ and the response field $B$ . As a side-product we find several theorems pertaining to these cumulants which will be useful when investigating the interacting regime of the theory in future work.It was recently shown by Bartelmann et al. how correlated initial conditions can be introduced into the statistical field theory for classical particles pioneered by Das and Mazenko. In this paper we extend this development from the canonical to the grand canonical ensemble for a system satisfying statistical homogeneity and isotropy. We do this by translating the probability distribution for the initial phase space coordinates of the particles into an easy diagrammatic representation and then using a variant of the Mayer cluster expansion to sum over particle numbers. The grand canonical generating functional is then used in a structured approach to the derivation of the non-interacting cumulants of the two core collective fields, the density $ρ$ and the response field $B$. As a side-product we find several theorems pertaining to these cumulants which will be useful when investigating the interacting regime of the theory in future work.

arXiv:1412.2572Dec 8, 20140 citations

ρ

and the response field

B

. As a side-product we find several theorems pertaining to these cumulants which will be useful when investigating the interacting regime of the theory in future work.