A Diagrammatic Interpretation of the Boltzmann Equation

We study nonlinear response in weakly coupled nonequilibrium $\phi^4$ theory in the context of both classical transport theory and real time quantum field theory, based on a generalized Kubo formula which we derive. A novel connection between these two approaches is established which provides a diagrammatic interpretation of the Boltzmann equation.Comment: 5 pages in RevTex with 4 Postscript figure

Chapman-Enskog expansion of the Boltzmann equation and its diagrammatic interpretation

We perform a Chapman-Enskog expansion of the Boltzmann equation keeping up to quadratic contributions. We obtain a generalized nonlinear Kubo formula, and a set of integral equations which resum ladder and extended ladder diagrams. We show that these two equations have exactly the same structure, and thus provide a diagrammatic interpretation of the Chapman-Enskog expansion of the Boltzmann equation, up to quadratic order.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures in eps, talk given at XXXI International Symposium on Multiparticle Dynamics, Sept 1-7, 2001, Datong China. URL http://ismd31.ccnu.edu.cn

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking for Scalar QED with Non-minimal Chern-Simons Coupling

We investigate the two-loop effective potential for both minimally and non-minimally coupled Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories. The non-minimal gauge interaction represents the magnetic moment interaction between a charged scalar and the electromagnetic field. In a previous paper we have shown that the two loop effective potential for this model is renormalizable with an appropriate choice of the non-minimal coupling constant. We carry out a detailed analysis of the spontaneous symmetry breaking induced by radiative corrections. As long as the renormalization point for all couplings is chosen to be the true minimum of the effective potential, both models predict the presence of spontaneous symmetry breaking. Two loop corrections are small compared to the one loop result, and thus the symmetry breaking is perturbatively stable.Comment: Revtex 25 pages, 9 figure

Spontaneous Scale Symmetry Breaking in 2+1-Dimensional QED at Both Zero and Finite Temperature

A complete analysis of dynamical scale symmetry breaking in 2+1-dimensional QED at both zero and finite temperature is presented by looking at solutions to the Schwinger-Dyson equation. In different kinetic energy regimes we use various numerical and analytic techniques (including an expansion in large flavour number). It is confirmed that, contrary to the case of 3+1 dimensions, there is no dynamical scale symmetry breaking at zero temperature, despite the fact that chiral symmetry breaking can occur dynamically. At finite temperature, such breaking of scale symmetry may take place.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, uses RevTeX4-bet

KMS conditions for 4-point Green functions at finite temperature

We study the 4-point function in the Keldysh formalism of the closed time path formulation of real time finite temperature field theory. We derive the KMS conditions for these functions and discuss the number of 4-point functions that are independent. We define a set of `physical' functions which are linear combinations of the usual Keldysh functions. We show that these functions satisfy simple KMS conditions. In addition, we consider a set of integral equations which represent a resummation of ladder graphs. We show that these integral equations decouple when one uses the physical functions that we have defined. We discuss the generalization of these results to QED.Comment: 17 pages in Revtex with 2 figure

Four-Point Spectral Functions and Ward Identities in Hot QED

We derive spectral representations for the different components of the 4-point function at finite temperature in the real time formalism in terms of five real spectral densities. We explicitly calculate all these functions in QED in the hard thermal loop approximation. The Ward identities obeyed by the 1-loop 3- and 4-point functions in real time and their spectral functions are derived. We compare our results with those derived previously in the imaginary-time formalism for retarded functions in hot QCD, and we discuss the generalization of our results to non-equilibrium situations.Comment: 16 pages in Revtex with 3 figures, dense version, a typo correcte