Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics
Markovian kinetic equations in a nonequilibrium statistical ensemble formalism
Justino R. Madureira, Aurea Rosas Vasconcellos, Roberto Luzzi, Leonardo Lauck
Abstract
The nonlinear quantum kinetic theory for many-body systems either near or far from equilibrium that a nonequilibrium ensemble formalism provides is revisited. In this communication we consider an important limit of such transport equations, consisting of the memoryless approximation, which leads to the so-called Markovian kinetic equations. They are derived in Zubarev's approach to the method, and next applied to a particular model of a spin system in interaction with a thermal bath of lattice vibrations. The limitations of the approach, as well as some criticism it has received, are discussed.