It is possible to write down relativistic [[wikipedia:Quantum_Boltzmann_equation|quantum Boltzmann equations]] for [[wikipedia:Quantum_field_theory|relativistic]] quantum systems in which the number of particles is not conserved in collisions. This has several applications in [[wikipedia:Physical_cosmology|physical cosmology]],<ref name="KolbTurner">{{cite book|author1=Edward Kolb|author2=Michael Turner|name-list-style=amp|title=The Early Universe|year=1990|publisher=Westview Press|isbn=9780201626742}}</ref> including the formation of the light elements in [[wikipedia:Big_Bang_nucleosynthesis|Big Bang nucleosynthesis]], the production of [[wikipedia:Dark_matter|dark matter]] and [[wikipedia:Baryogenesis|baryogenesis]]. It is not a priori clear that the state of a quantum system can be characterized by a classical phase space density ''f''. However, for a wide class of applications a well-defined generalization of ''f'' exists which is the solution of an effective Boltzmann equation that can be derived from first principles of [[wikipedia:Quantum_field_theory|quantum field theory]].<ref name="BEfromQFT">M. Drewes; C. Weniger; S. Mendizabal (8 January 2013). "The Boltzmann equation from quantum field theory". ''Phys. Lett. B''. 718 (3): 1119–1124. arXiv:1202.1301. Bibcode:2013PhLB..718.1119D. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2012.11.046. S2CID 119253828.</ref> | It is possible to write down relativistic [[wikipedia:Quantum_Boltzmann_equation|quantum Boltzmann equations]] for [[wikipedia:Quantum_field_theory|relativistic]] quantum systems in which the number of particles is not conserved in collisions. This has several applications in [[wikipedia:Physical_cosmology|physical cosmology]],<ref name="KolbTurner">{{cite book|author1=Edward Kolb|author2=Michael Turner|name-list-style=amp|title=The Early Universe|year=1990|publisher=Westview Press|isbn=9780201626742}}</ref> including the formation of the light elements in [[wikipedia:Big_Bang_nucleosynthesis|Big Bang nucleosynthesis]], the production of [[wikipedia:Dark_matter|dark matter]] and [[wikipedia:Baryogenesis|baryogenesis]]. It is not a priori clear that the state of a quantum system can be characterized by a classical phase space density ''f''. However, for a wide class of applications a well-defined generalization of ''f'' exists which is the solution of an effective Boltzmann equation that can be derived from first principles of [[wikipedia:Quantum_field_theory|quantum field theory]].<ref name="BEfromQFT">M. Drewes; C. Weniger; S. Mendizabal (8 January 2013). "The Boltzmann equation from quantum field theory". ''Phys. Lett. B''. 718 (3): 1119–1124. arXiv:1202.1301. Bibcode:2013PhLB..718.1119D. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2012.11.046. S2CID 119253828.</ref> |