On the quantum Boltzmann equation

Abstract

We give a nonrigorous derivation of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation from the Schrodinger evolution of interacting fermions. The argument is based mainly on the assumption that a quasifree initial state satisfies a property called restricted quasifreeness in the weak coupling limit at any later time. By definition, a state is called restricted quasifree if the four-point and the eight-point functions of the state factorize in the same manner as in a quasifree state.