Quantum kinetic theory for spin-1/2 fermions in Wigner function formalism

Abstract

We give a brief overview of the kinetic theory for spin-1/2 fermions in Wigner function formalism. The chiral and spin kinetic equations can be derived from equations for Wigner functions. A general Wigner function has 16 components which satisfy 32 coupled equations. For massless fermions, the number of independent equations can be significantly reduced due to the decoupling of left-handed and right-handed particles. It can be proved that out of many components of Wigner functions and their coupled equations, only one kinetic equation for the distribution function is independent. This is called the disentanglement theorem for Wigner functions of chiral fermions. For massive fermions, it turns out that one particle distribution function and three spin distribution functions are independent and satisfy four kinetic equations. Various chiral and spin effects such as chiral magnetic and vortical effects, the chiral separation effect, spin polarization effects can be consistently described in the formalism.