Multi-time formulation of Matsubara dynamics.

Abstract

Matsubara dynamics has recently emerged as the most general form of a quantum-Boltzmann-conserving classical dynamics theory for the calculation of single-time correlation functions. Here, we present a generalization of Matsubara dynamics for the evaluation of multitime correlation functions. We first show that the Matsubara approximation can also be used to approximate the two-time symmetrized double Kubo transformed correlation function. By a straightforward extension of these ideas to the multitime realm, a multitime Matsubara dynamics approximation can be obtained for the multitime fully symmetrized Kubo transformed correlation function. Although not a practical method, due to the presence of a phase-term, this multitime formulation of Matsubara dynamics represents a benchmark theory for future development of Boltzmann preserving semiclassical approximations to general higher order multitime correlation functions. It also reveals a connection between imaginary time-ordering in the path integral and the classical dynamics of multitime correlation functions.