Quantum fields out of thermal equilibrium

Functional Formulation of Quantum Theory of a Scalar Field in a Metric with Lorentzian and Euclidean Signatures

We study the Schrödinger equation in quantum field theory (QFT) in its functional formulation. In this approach, quantum correlation functions can be expressed as classical expectation values over (complex) stochastic processes. We obtain a stochastic representation of the Schrödinger time evolution on Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) states by means of the Wiener integral. We discuss QFT in a flat expanding metric and in de Sitter space-time. We calculate the evolution kernel in an expanding flat metric in the real-time formulation. We discuss a field interaction in pseudoRiemannian and Riemannian metrics showing that an inversion of the signature leads to some substantial simplifications of the singularity problems in QFT.

Quantum Weak Invariants: Dynamical Evolution of Fluctuations and Correlations

Weak invariants are time-dependent observables with conserved expectation values. Their fluctuations, however, do not remain constant in time. On the assumption that time evolution of the state of an open quantum system is given in terms of a completely positive map, the fluctuations monotonically grow even if the map is not unital, in contrast to the fact that monotonic increases of both the von Neumann entropy and Rényi entropy require the map to be unital. In this way, the weak invariants describe temporal asymmetry in a manner different from the entropies. A formula is presented for time evolution of the covariance matrix associated with the weak invariants in cases where the system density matrix obeys the Gorini-Kossakowski-Lindblad-Sudarshan equation.

Weak invariants in dissipative systems: action principle and Noether charge for kinetic theory

In non-equilibrium classical thermostatistics, the state of a system may be described by not only dynamical/thermodynamical variables but also a kinetic distribution function. This 'double structure' bears some analogy with that in quantum thermodynamics, where both dynamical variables and the Hilbert space are involved. Recently, the concept of weak invariants has repeatedly been discussed in the context of quantum thermodynamics. A weak invariant is defined in such a way that its value changes in time but its expectation value is conserved under time evolution prescribed by a kinetic equation. Here, a new aspect of a weak invariant is revealed for the classical Fokker-Planck equation as an example of classical kinetic equations. The auxiliary field formalism is applied to the construction of the action for the kinetic equation. Then, it is shown that the auxiliary field is a weak invariant and is the Noether charge. The action is invariant under the transformation generated by the weak invariant. The result may shed light on possible roles of the symmetry principle in the kinetic descriptions of non-equilibrium systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fundamental aspects of nonequilibrium thermodynamics'.

A variational method in out-of-equilibrium physical systems

We propose a new variational principle for out-of-equilibrium dynamic systems that are fundamentally based on the method of Lagrange multipliers applied to the total entropy of an ensemble of particles. However, we use the fundamental equation of thermodynamics on differential forms, considering U and S as 0-forms. We obtain a set of two first order differential equations that reveal the same formal symplectic structure shared by classical mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. From this approach, a topological torsion current emerges of the form , where A_j and ω_k denote the components of the vector potential (gravitational and/or electromagnetic) and where ω denotes the angular velocity of the accelerated frame. We derive a special form of the Umov-Poynting theorem for rotating gravito-electromagnetic systems. The variational method is then applied to clarify the working mechanism of particular devices.

Variational principle for fractional kinetics and the Lévy Ansatz

A variational principle is developed for fractional kinetics based on the auxiliary-field formalism. It is applied to the Fokker-Planck equation with spatiotemporal fractionality, and a variational solution is obtained with the help of the Lévy Ansatz. It is shown how the whole range from subdiffusion to superdiffusion is realized by the variational solution as a competing effect between the long waiting time and the long jump. The motion of the center of the probability distribution is also analyzed in the case of a periodic drift.

Dilatation symmetry of the Fokker-Planck equation and anomalous diffusion

Based on the canonical formalism, the dilatation symmetry is implemented to the Fokker-Planck equation for the Wigner distribution that describes atomic motion in an optical lattice. This reveals the symmetry principle underlying the recent result obtained by Lutz [Phys. Rev. A 67, 051402(R) (2003)] on the connection between anomalous transport in the optical lattice and Tsallis statistics in the high-energy regime. A condition is derived for the general linear Fokker-Planck equation to admit a nonstationary solution distribution that decays as a power law.

Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium self-consistent average-atom model for plasma physics

A time-dependent collisional-radiative average-atom model is presented to study statistical properties of highly charged ion plasmas in off-equilibrium conditions. The time evolution of electron populations and the electron covariance matrix is obtained as approximate solutions of a master equation. Atomic structure is described either with a screened-hydrogenic model including l splitting, or by calculating one-electron states in a self-consistent average-atom potential. Collisional and radiative excitation/deexcitation and ionization/recombination rates, as well as autoionization and dielectronic recombination rates, are formulated within the average-configuration framework. Local thermodynamic equilibrium is obtained as a specific steady-state solution. The influence of atomic structure and the role of autoionization and dielectronic recombination processes are studied by calculating steady-state average ionization and ionization variance of hot plasmas with or without radiation field.