Quantum Kinetic Equations for a Multicomponent System of Charged Particles and Photons

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Abstract
Quantum-mechanical kinetic equations are derived for a homogeneous, isotropic system of charged particles and photons. A hierarchy of equations is introduced by the use of the Wigner distribution operators and quasiphoton creation and annihilation operators. The method of Bogoliubov is used to truncate the hierarchy and to obtain kinetic equations. The resulting kinetic equations contain effects due to the processes of particle-particle scattering, particle-photon scattering, and single and double emission-absorption of photons by particles. In addition, there are terms representing shielding of the particles and photons, as well as other many-body effects. Photon self-energy corrections are also discussed.