Covariant linear response theory of relativistic QED plasmas

We start from the QED Lagrangian to describe a charged many-particle system coupled to the radiation field. A covariant density matrix approach to kinetic theory of QED plasmas, subjected to a strong external electro-magnetic field has recently been developed (Theor. Math. Phys. 131 (2002) 812; Theo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysica A Vol. 319; pp. 371 - 403
Main Authors Höll, A., Morozov, V.G., Röpke, G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.03.2003
Subjects
Hyperplane formalism
Inverse bremsstrahlung
QED plasma
Relativistic kinetic theory
Relativistic linear response theory
Inverse bremsstrahlung
Relativistic kinetic theory
QED plasma
Hyperplane formalism
Relativistic linear response theory
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Summary:We start from the QED Lagrangian to describe a charged many-particle system coupled to the radiation field. A covariant density matrix approach to kinetic theory of QED plasmas, subjected to a strong external electro-magnetic field has recently been developed (Theor. Math. Phys. 131 (2002) 812; Theor. Math. Phys. 132 (2002) 1026). We use the hyperplane formalism in order to perform a manifest covariant quantization and to implement initial correlations to the solution of the Liouville-von Neumann equation. A perturbative expansion in orders of the fine structure constant for the correlation functions as well as the statistical operator is applied. The non-equilibrium state of the system is given within generalized linear response theory. Expressions for the susceptibility tensor, describing the plasma response, are calculated within different approximations, like the RPA approximation or considering collisions within the Born-approximation. In particular, the process of relativistic inverse bremsstrahlung in a plasma is discussed.
ISSN:0378-4371
1873-2119
DOI:10.1016/S0378-4371(02)01408-5