Transport Theory of Deeply Inelastic Heavy-Ion Reactions

Abstract

The term transport theory is explained, and examples of transport equations are given. The use of such equations in the analysis of compound processes and, more recently, heavy ion collisions, is described. Conditions for the applicability of transport theory are discussed in terms of the time scales involved. Nuclear transport theory is formulated as a method of describing damped large-scale collective nuclear motion at high temperatures. Various recent theoretical approaches are presented in the light of these general considerations, and their results and the open problems are discussed.