Thermal Field Theory and Infinite Statistics

We construct a quantum thermal field theory for scalar particles in the case of infinite statistics. The extension is provided by working out the Fock space realization of a "quantum algebra", and by identifying the hamiltonian as the energy operator. We examine the perturbative behavior of this theory and in particular the possible extension of the KLN theorem, and argue that it appears as a stable structure in a quantum field theory context.Comment: 25 pp, INLN 92/16, ENSLAPP-A-372/9

Plasmon Decay: From QED to QCD

Upon using the same theoretical framework, I describe two interesting decay processes: the electromagnetic plasmon decay into neutrinos, which can be the dominant cooling mechanism for red giants and white dwarfs, and the gluonic plasmon decay into quarks, which can be measured in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 PostScript figures included (Talk given at the 3rd Workshop on Thermal Field Theories and their Applications, Banff, Canada, August 1993

Photon Propagation in Dense Media

Using thermal field theory, we derive simple analytic expressions for the spectral density of photons in degenerate QED plasmas, without assuming the usual non or ultra-relativistic limit. We recover the standard results in both cases. Although very similar in ultra-relativistic plasmas, transverse and longitudinal excitations behave very differently as the electron Fermi momentum decreases.Comment: 12pp (3 PS figures available upon request), ENSLAPP-A-412/9

Axion Emission from Red Giants and White Dwarfs

Using thermal field theory methods, we recalculate axion emission from dense plasmas. We study in particular the Primakoff and the bremsstrahlung processes. The Primakoff rate is significantly suppressed at high densities, when the electrons become relativistic. However, the bound on the axion-photon coupling, $G<10^{-10}$ GeV, is unaffected, as it is constrained by the evolution of HB stars, which have low densities. In contradistinction, the same relativistic effects enhance the bremsstrahlung processes. From the red giants and white dwarfs evolution, we obtain a conservative bound on the axion-electron coupling, $g_{ae} < 2\times 10^{-13}$.Comment: 17 pp, 3 PS figures, CERN-TH-7044/9

Thermal quark production in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions

We calculate thermal production of u, d, s, c and b quarks in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. The following processes are taken into account: thermal gluon decay (g to ibar i), gluon fusion (g g to ibar i), and quark-antiquark annihilation (jbar j to ibar i), where i and j represent quark species. We use the thermal quark masses, $m_i^2(T)\simeq m_i^2 + (2g^2/9)T^2$, in all the rates. At small mass ($m_i(T)<2T$), the production is largely dominated by the thermal gluon decay channel. We obtain numerical and analytic solutions of one-dimensional hydrodynamic expansion of an initially pure glue plasma. Our results show that even in a quite optimistic scenario, all quarks are far from chemical equilibrium throughout the expansion. Thermal production of light quarks (u, d and s) is nearly independent of species. Heavy quark (c and b) production is quite independent of the transition temperature and could serve as a very good probe of the initial temperature. Thermal quark production measurements could also be used to determine the gluon damping rate, or equivalently the magnetic mass.Comment: 14 pages (latex) plus 6 figures (uuencoded postscript files); CERN-TH.7038/9

Resummation of Perturbation Series in Non-Equilibrium Scalar Field Theory

The general behaviour of perturbation series in non-equilibrium scalar field theory is analysed in some detail, with a particular emphasis on the ``pathological terms'', generated by multiple products of $\delta$-functions. Using an intuitive regularization method, it is shown that these terms give large contributions at all orders, even when considering small deviations from equilibrium. Fortunately, these terms can also be resummed and I give the general expressions for the resummed propagators in non-equilibrium scalar field theory, regardless of the size of deviations from equilibrium.Comment: 11pp, 4 figures (uuencoded file), preprint CERN-TH.7336/9

Thermal quark production in pure glue and quark gluon plasmas

We calculate production rates for massless $(u,d)$ and massive $(s,c,b)$ quarks in pure glue and quark gluon plasmas to leading order in the strong coupling constant $g$. The leading contribution comes from gluon decay into $q\bar q$ pairs, using a thermal gluon propagator with finite thermal mass and damping rate. The rate behaves as $\alpha_S^2(\ln 1/\alpha_S)^2 T^4$ when $m, \alpha_S \rightarrow 0$ and depends linearly on the transverse gluon damping rate for all values of the quark mass $m$. The light quark ($u$, $d$, $s$) chemical equilibration time is approximately 10-100 $T^{-1}$ for $g=$2-3, so that quarks are likely to remain far from chemical equilibrium in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures (available upon request), CERN preprint CERN-TH-6882/9

The Electric Charge of Neutrinos and Plasmon Decay

By using both thermal field theory and a somewhat more intuitive method, we define the electric charge as well as the charge radius of neutrinos propagating inside a plasma. We show that electron neutrinos acquire a charge radius of order $\sim 6.5 \times 10^{-16}$ cm, regardless of the properties of the medium. Then, we compute the rate of plasmon decay which such an electric charge or a charge radius implies. Taking into account the relativistic effects of the degenerate electron gas, we compare our results to various approximations as well as to recent calculations and determine the regimes where the electric charge or the charge radius does mediate the decay of plasmons. Finally, we discuss the stellar limits on any anomalous charge radius of neutrinos.Comment: 19pp, 4 figures (available upon request), CERN-TH-7076/9

Finite Temperature Renormalization of the (ϕ3)6(\phi^3)_6- and (ϕ4)4(\phi^4)_4-Models at Zero Momentum

A self-consistent renormalization scheme at finite temperature and zero momentum is used together with the finite temperature renormalization group to study the temperature dependence of the mass and the coupling to one-loop order in the $(\phi^3)_6$- and $(\phi^4)_4$-models. It is found that the critical temperature is shifted relative to the naive one-loop result and the coupling constants at the critical temperature get large corrections. In the high temperature limit of the \phiff-model the coupling decreases.Comment: 16 pages, plain Latex, NORDITA-92/38