Path-integral formulation of real-time finite-temperature field theory

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A path-integral representation of the generating functional for the real-time finite-temperature Green’s functions is investigated. The Feynman rules that are implied in this way are reconciled with those obtained in the thermo-field-dynamics approach for scalar fields, although the essential points involved in achieving this reconciliation hold for all spins. In addition, several aspects of the imposition and implications of the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger periodicity condition are clarified.