The Quantum Statistics of Dynamic Processes

The Quantum Statistics of Dynamic Processes gives an introduction to the essential methods and fields of application of this increasingly important branch of physics. Beginning with the basic concepts of statistical physics and quantum theory, the authors present a treatment of time-dependent external fields, deviations from equilibrium and equations of motion of the statistical operator. Exercises, hints for solution, and appendices are included.

1 General Aspects.- 1. The Concept of Statistical Physics.- 2. Summary of Quantum Theory.- 3. Quantum Theory in Liouville Space.- 4. Systems of Many Particles.- 5. Information-Theoretical Construction of the Statistical Operator.- 6. The Significance of Generalized Canonical Statistical Operators for Dynamic Processes.- 2 Response to Time-Dependent External Fields.- 7. The Quantum-Statistical Formulation of Response Theory.- 8. A Scalar Product in the Liouville Space for Linear Response Theory.- 9. Linear Response Theory.- 10. Quadratic Response Theory.- 3 Equations of Motion for Observables in the Case of Small Deviations from Equilibrium.- 11. Exact Integro-Dilferential Equations for Relaxation Processes.- 12. Perturbation-Theoretical Treatment of the Frequency and Memory Matrix.- 13. The Transition to Differential Equations with Damping.- 14. Time Derivatives as a Special Set of Observables.- 15. Dynamic Onsager-Casimir Coefficients as Linear Response Functions for Generalized Forces.- 16. Physical Examples.- 4 Equations of Motion of the Relevant Parts of the Statistical Operator.- 17. Mappings of the Statistical Operator onto a Relevant Part.- 18. The Generalized Canonical Statistical Operator ?(t) as ?rel (t).- A. Equivalence of the Nakajima-Zwanzig Equation and the Generalized-Operator Langevin Equation.- B. Symmetries.- B.1.1 Properties of D(g).- B.1.2 Selection Rules.- B.2.2 Symmetry Properties Resulting from Time-Reversal Invariance.- Solutions to the Exercises.