Boltzmann equation in classical and quantum field theory

Abstract

Improving upon the previous treatment by Mueller and Son, we derive the Boltzmann equation that results from a classical scalar field theory. This is obtained by starting from the corresponding quantum field theory and taking the classical limit with particular emphasis on the path integral and perturbation theory. A previously overlooked Van Vleck determinant is shown to control the tadpole type of self-energy that can still appear in the classical perturbation theory. Further comments on the validity of the approximations and possible applications are also given.