Viscosity of the Scalar Fields from the Classical Theory

We show how the resummation for time dependent quantities at high temperature can be performed with an effective classical theory. As an application we demonstrate that the leading term in the shear viscosity, which is related to the $\rho_{\Phi^2\Phi^2}$ spectral function can be calculated classically, either using classical linear response theory or from the classical $\Phi^2$ correlation function. The classical result depends explicitly on the cutoff, and the choice $\Lambda\sim T$ reproduces the known quantum result.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, 1 eps figur

Generalized Boltzmann equations for on-shell particle production in a hot plasma

A novel refinement of the conventional treatment of Kadanoff--Baym equations is suggested. Besides the Boltzmann equation another differential equation is used for calculating the evolution of the non-equilibrium two-point function. Although it was usually interpreted as a constraint on the solution of the Boltzmann equation, we argue that its dynamics is relevant to the determination and resummation of the particle production cut contributions. The differential equation for this new contribution is illustrated in the example of the cubic scalar model. The analogue of the relaxation time approximation is suggested. It results in the shift of the threshold location and in smearing out of the non-analytic threshold behaviour of the spectral function. Possible consequences for the dilepton production are discussed.Comment: 22 pages, latex, 2 ps figure

Real-time propagators at finite temperature and chemical potential

We derive a form of spectral representations for all bosonic and fermionic propagators in the real-time formulation of field theory at finite temperature and chemical potential. Besides being simple and symmetrical between the bosonic and the fermionic types, these representations depend explicitly on analytic functions only. This last property allows a simple evaluation of loop integrals in the energy variables over propagators in this form, even in presence of chemical potentials, which is not possible over their conventional form

Renormalization in Self-Consistent Approximations schemes at Finite Temperature I: Theory

Within finite temperature field theory, we show that truncated non-perturbative self-consistent Dyson resummation schemes can be renormalized with local counter-terms defined at the vacuum level. The requirements are that the underlying theory is renormalizable and that the self-consistent scheme follows Baym''s $\Phi$-derivable concept. The scheme generates both, the renormalized self-consistent equations of motion and the closed equations for the infinite set of counter terms. At the same time the corresponding 2PI-generating functional and the thermodynamical potential can be renormalized, in consistency with the equations of motion. This guarantees the standard $\Phi$-derivable properties like thermodynamic consistency and exact conservation laws also for the renormalized approximation schemes to hold. The proof uses the techniques of BPHZ-renormalization to cope with the explicit and the hidden overlapping vacuum divergences.Comment: 22 Pages 1 figure, uses RevTeX4. The Revision concerns the correction of some minor typos, a clarification concerning the real-time contour structure of renormalization parts and some comments concerning symmetries in the conclusions and outloo

Time evolution in linear response: Boltzmann equations and beyond

In this work a perturbative linear response analysis is performed for the time evolution of the quasi-conserved charge of a scalar field. One can find two regimes, one follows exponential damping, where the damping rate is shown to come from quantum Boltzmann equations. The other regime (coming from multiparticle cuts and products of them) decays as power law. The most important, non-oscillating contribution in our model comes from a 4-particle intermediate state and decays as 1/t^3. These results may have relevance for instance in the context of lepton number violation in the Early Universe.Comment: 19 page

Particle Currents in a Space-Time dependent and CP-violating Higgs Background: a Field Theory Approach

Motivated by cosmological applications like electroweak baryogenesis, we develop a field theoretic approach to the computation of particle currents on a space-time dependent and CP-violating Higgs background. We consider the Standard Model model with two Higgs doublets and CP violation in the scalar sector, and compute both fermionic and Higgs currents by means of an expansion in the background fields. We discuss the gauge dependence of the results and the renormalization of the current operators, showing that in the limit of local equilibrium, no extra renormalization conditions are needed in order to specify the system completely.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX file, uses epsf.sty. 4 figures available as a compressed .ep

Nonequilibrium perturbation theory for complex scalar fields

Real-time perturbation theory is formulated for complex scalar fields away from thermal equilibrium in such a way that dissipative effects arising from the absorptive parts of loop diagrams are approximately resummed into the unperturbed propagators. Low order calculations of physical quantities then involve quasiparticle occupation numbers which evolve with the changing state of the field system, in contrast to standard perturbation theory, where these occupation numbers are frozen at their initial values. The evolution equation of the occupation numbers can be cast approximately in the form of a Boltzmann equation. Particular attention is given to the effects of a non-zero chemical potential, and it is found that the thermal masses and decay widths of quasiparticle modes are different for particles and antiparticles.Comment: 15 pages using RevTeX; 2 figures in 1 Postscript file; Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Nucleon propagation through nuclear matter in chiral effective field theory

We treat the propagation of nucleon in nuclear matter by evaluating the ensemble average of the two-point function of nucleon currents in the framework of the chiral effective field theory. We first derive the effective parameters of nucleon to one loop. The resulting formula for the effective mass was known previously and gives an absurd value at normal nuclear density. We then modify it following Weinberg's method for the two-nucleon system in the effective theory. Our results for the effective mass and the width of nucleon are compared with those in the literature.Comment: 11 pages including 4 figures. To appear in Eur. J. Phys.

Perturbative nonequilibrium dynamics of phase transitions in an expanding universe

A complete set of Feynman rules is derived, which permits a perturbative description of the nonequilibrium dynamics of a symmetry-breaking phase transition in $\lambda\phi^4$ theory in an expanding universe. In contrast to a naive expansion in powers of the coupling constant, this approximation scheme provides for (a) a description of the nonequilibrium state in terms of its own finite-width quasiparticle excitations, thus correctly incorporating dissipative effects in low-order calculations, and (b) the emergence from a symmetric initial state of a final state exhibiting the properties of spontaneous symmetry breaking, while maintaining the constraint $\equiv 0$. Earlier work on dissipative perturbation theory and spontaneous symmetry breaking in Minkowski spacetime is reviewed. The central problem addressed is the construction of a perturbative approximation scheme which treats the initial symmetric state in terms of the field $\phi$, while the state that emerges at later times is treated in terms of a field $\zeta$, linearly related to $\phi^2$. The connection between early and late times involves an infinite sequence of composite propagators. Explicit one-loop calculations are given of the gap equations that determine quasiparticle masses and of the equation of motion for $$ and the renormalization of these equations is described. The perturbation series needed to describe the symmetric and broken-symmetry states are not equivalent, and this leads to ambiguities intrinsic to any perturbative approach. These ambiguities are discussed in detail and a systematic procedure for matching the two approximations is described.Comment: 22 pages, using RevTeX. 6 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

Transurethral injection of autologous muscle precursor cells for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: a prospective phase I clinical trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS The purpose was to investigate the safety and feasibility of transurethral injections of autologous muscle precursor cells (MPCs) into the external urinary sphincter (EUS) to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in female patients. METHODS Prospective and randomised phase I clinical trial. Standardised 1-h pad test, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), urodynamic study, and MRI of the pelvis were performed at baseline and 6 months after treatment. MPCs gained through open muscle biopsy were transported to a GMP facility for processing and cell expansion. The final product was injected into the EUS via a transurethral ultrasound-guided route. Primary outcomes were defined as any adverse events (AEs) during follow-up. Secondary outcomes were functional, questionnaire, and radiological results. RESULTS Ten female patients with SUI grades I-II were included in the study and 9 received treatment. Out of 8 AEs, 3 (37.5%) were potentially related to treatment and treated conservatively: 1 urinary tract infection healed with antibiotics treatment, 1 dysuria and 1 discomfort at biopsy site. Functional urethral length under stress was 25 mm at baseline compared with 30 mm at 6 months' follow-up (p=0.009). ICIQ-UI-SF scores improved from 7 points at baseline to 4 points at follow-up (p=0.035). MRI of the pelvis revealed no evidence of tumour or necrosis, whereas the diameter of the EUS muscle increased from 1.8 mm at baseline to 1.9 mm at follow-up (p=0.009). CONCLUSION Transurethral injections of autologous MPCs into the EUS for treatment of SUI in female patients can be regarded as safe and feasible. Only a minimal number of expected and easily treatable AEs were documented