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Particle number in kinetic theory

  • theoretical physics
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Abstract.

We provide a derivation for the particle number densities on phase space for scalar and fermionic fields in terms of Wigner functions. Our expressions satisfy the desired properties: for bosons the particle number is positive, for fermions it lies in the interval between zero and one, and both are consistent with thermal field theory. As applications we consider the Bunch-Davies vacuum and fermionic preheating after inflation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Heidelberg University, Philosophenweg 16, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    B. Garbrecht, T. Prokopec & M. G. Schmidt

Authors
  1. B. Garbrecht
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  2. T. Prokopec
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  3. M. G. Schmidt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Garbrecht.

Additional information

Received: 18 May 2004, Revised: 27 August 2004, Published online: 20 October 2004

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Garbrecht, B., Prokopec, T. & Schmidt, M.G. Particle number in kinetic theory. Eur. Phys. J. C 38, 135–143 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s2004-02007-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s2004-02007-0

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