Wigner functions of essentially nonequilibrium systems

Abstract

The aim of the article is to discuss the S-matrix interpretation of perturbation theory for the Wigner functions generating functional at a finite temperature. For sake of definiteness, fruitful from pedagogical point of view, the concrete problem from particle physics of high-temperature initial states dissipation into cold one is considered from experimental and theoretical points of view. The temperature is introduced in the theory by typical for the microcanonical description way. The perturbation theory contains two- temperature (of initial and final states) Green functions. Two possible boundary conditions are considered. One of them is usual in a field theory vacuum boundary condition. Corresponding generating functional of Wigner functions can be used in the particle physics. Another type of the boundary condition assumes that the system under consideration is in environment of the black-body radiation. This leads to the usual in statistics Kubo-Martin-Schwinger boundary condition at the equilibrium (one-temperature) limit. The comparison of the S-matrix approach with Schwinger-Keldysh real-time finite-temperature field theory and with nonstationary statistical operator approach of Zubarev are considered. The range of applicability of the finite-temperature description of dissipation processes is shown.