Physics (Internal)

Wigner distribution functions for complex dynamical systems

This event is part of the Condensed Matter Theory Seminar Series.

Abstract:

The equation of motion for the reduced Wigner function of a system coupled to an external quantum system is presented for the specific case when the external quantum system can be modeled as a set of harmonic oscillators. The result is derived from the Wigner-Weyl formulation of the Feynman-Vernon influence functional theory for the reduced propagator. It is shown how the true self-energy for the equation of motion is connected with the influence functional for the path integral. Explicit expressions are derived in terms of the bare propagator. It will be shown under which approximations the resulting equation of motion reduces to the Boltzmann equation.