Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: We derive the Boltzmann equation for scalar fields using the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism. The focus lies on the derivation of the collision term. We show that the relevant self-energy diagrams have a factorization property. The collision term assumes the Boltzmann-like form of scattering probability times statistical factors for those self-energy diagrams which correspond to tree level scattering processes. Our proof covers scattering processes with any number of external particles, which come from self-energy diagrams with any number of loops.
Author: Steffen Weinstock
Institution: Bielefeld University
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2594220239