Kinetic theory - Classical, quantum, and relativistic descriptions

Kinetic Theory: Classical, Quantum, and Relativistic Descriptions goes beyond the scope of other works in the field with its thorough treatment of applications in a wide variety of disciplines. Its clear exposition and emphasis on concrete examples will make it not only an excellent graduate text but also a valuable resource for researchers in such disciplines as aerospace, mechanical, and chemical engineering; astrophysics, solid state and laser physics and devices, plasma physics, and controlled and thermonuclear fusion.

Among the topics covered are:

• The Liouville equation and analyses of the Liouville equation, including two independent derivations
• The Boltzmann equation and Boltzmann's H-theorem
• Analysis of the linearized collision operator
• Fluid dynamics and irreversibility
• Assorted kinetic equations with applications to plasmas and neutral fluids
• Elements of quantum kinetic theory, including the Green's-function formalism and the Wigner-Moyal equation *Relativistic kinetic theory and Lorentz invariants
• Kinetic properties of metals and amorphous media
• Monte-Carlo analysis in kinetic theory
• Kinetic study of shock waves

This third revised edition features a new section on constants of motion and symmetry and a new appendix on the Lorentz-Legendre expansion.

Each chapter concludes with a variety of problems, many of which provide self-contained descriptions of related topics; lists of such "topical problems" are included in the Table of Contents. Numerous appendices supply vector formulas and tensor notation, properties of special functions, physical constants, references, and a historical time chart.

Contents

• The Liouville Equation
• Analyses of the Liouville Equation
• The Boltzmann Equation, Fluid Dynamics, and Irreversibility
• Assorted Kinetic Equations with Applications to Plasmas and Neutral Fluids
• Elements of Quantum Kinetic Theory
• Relativistic Kinetic Theory
• Kinetic Properties of Metals and Amorphous Media
• Appendixes
• Index