Relaxation time approximation with pair production and annihilation processes

Abstract

We extend the Boltzmann equation in the relaxation time approximation to explicitly include transitions between particles forming an interacting mixture. Using the detailed balance condition as well as conditions of energy-momentum and current conservation, we show that only two independent relaxation time scales are allowed in such an interacting system. Dissipative hydrodynamic equations and the form of transport coefficients is subsequently derived for this case. We find that the shear and bulk viscosity coefficients, as well as the baryon charge conductivity are independent of the transition time scale. However, the bulk viscosity and conductivity coefficients that can be attributed to the individual components of the mixture depend on the transition time.