Correlation entropy of an interacting quantum field and H theorem for the [Formula Presented] model

Abstract

Following the Boltzmann-BBGKY paradigm we propose a correlation entropy (of the nth order) for an interacting quantum field. The concept of correlation entropy is useful for addressing issues related to thermalization. As a small yet important step in that direction, we state an H theorem for the correlation entropy of a quantum-mechanical [Formula Presented] model with a closed time path two-particle irreducible effective action at the level of a next-to-leading-order large N approximation. This model may be regarded as a field theory in 0 space dimensions. We verify the validity of the proposed H theorem in two limiting cases. © 2003 The American Physical Society.