Quantum kinetic theory for quantum chromodynamics

Abstract

We develop a quantum kinetic theory for QCD, which incorporates all leading order collision terms. The diagonal components of the Wigner functions for quarks and gluons satisfy a spin-averaged Boltzmann equation. The non-diagonal components of the Wigner functions give spin polarization of on-shell quarks and gluons in quark-gluon plasma induced by hydrodynamic gradients. A power counting in the coupling shows the spin polarization behaves differently in vortical and non-vortical gradients: the former is free of collisional contribution to leading order, while the latter contains a collisional contribution at parametrically the same order as the free theory counterpart. We also find the inelastic collision in a spin basis provides a possible mechanism for conversion between spin and orbital angular momentum.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{lin2026quantum,
  title = {{Quantum kinetic theory for quantum chromodynamics}},
  author = {Shu Lin},
  journal = {SciPost Physics},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.21468/scipostphys.21.4.082},
  url = {https://scipost.org/10.21468/SciPostPhys.21.4.082},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Quantum kinetic theory for quantum chromodynamics
AU  - Shu Lin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - SciPost Physics
DO  - 10.21468/scipostphys.21.4.082
UR  - https://scipost.org/10.21468/SciPostPhys.21.4.082
AB  - We develop a quantum kinetic theory for QCD, which incorporates all leading order collision terms. The diagonal components of the Wigner functions for quarks and gluons satisfy a spin-averaged Boltzmann equation. The non-diagonal components of the Wigner functions give spin polarization of on-shell quarks and gluons in quark-gluon plasma induced by hydrodynamic gradients. A power counting in the coupling shows the spin polarization behaves differently in vortical and non-vortical gradients: the former is free of collisional contribution to leading order, while the latter contains a collisional contribution at parametrically the same order as the free theory counterpart. We also find the inelastic collision in a spin basis provides a possible mechanism for conversion between spin and orbital angular momentum.
SN  - 2542-4653
ER  -

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