Covariant Calculations at Finite Temperature: The Relativistic Plasma

Apr, 1982
39 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.D 26 (1982) 1394
Report number:
  • PRINT-82-0313 (PENN)

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Abstract: (APS)
It is shown that finite-temperature calculations in field theory are manifestly Lorentz covariant at all stages if the Minkowski-space form of the temperature-dependent propagators is used and if the four-velocity uμ of the heat bath is taken into account. New tensor structures involving uμ generally arise but are severely constrained by covariant current conservation. A complete high-temperature (T≫m) expansion of the vacuum polarization tensor for non-Abelian gauge theories is computed to order g2 and displays the separate dependence on frequency ω and wave number k that occurs at finite temperature. A covariant phenomenology of "electric" and "magnetic" properties is applied to the collective plasma effects, characterized by a plasma frequency ωp2=(Nf+2N)g2T26 for SU(N) with Nf fermions. The longitudinal normal modes of the "electric" field exist only for ω>ωp; for ω<ωp all "electric" fields are screened. The transverse normal modes are plane waves along Ẽ×B̃ for ω>ωp; for ω<ωp both transverse "electric" and "magnetic" fields are shielded except for the static (ω=0) case.
  • FIELD THEORY: FINITE TEMPERATURE
  • INVARIANCE: LORENTZ
  • FIELD THEORY: VACUUM POLARIZATION
  • VACUUM POLARIZATION: FIELD THEORY
  • PLASMA
  • GAUGE FIELD THEORY: SU(N)
  • FERMION: FIELD THEORY
  • ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
  • EFFECT: SCREENING
  • THERMODYNAMICS