Some connections between relativistic classical mechanics, statistical mechanics, and quantum field theory
- 15 December 1977
- journal article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review D
- Vol. 16 (12) , 3464-3473
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.16.3464
Abstract
A gauge-invariant version of the Wigner representation is used to relate relativistic mechanics, statistical mechanics, and quantum field theory in the context of the electrodynamics of scalar particles. A unified formulation of quantum field theory and statistical mechanics is developed which clarifies the physical interpretation of the single-particle Wigner function. A covariant form of Ehrenfest's theorem is derived. Classical electrodynamics is derived from quantum field theory after making a random-phase approximation. The validity of this approximation is discussed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.16.3464 © 1977 The American Physical SocietyKeywords
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