Institute for Nuclear Theory - Program 99-3

NON-EQUILIBRIUM DYNAMICS IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY

October 4 - December 10, 1999

Numerous problems of contemporary interest, such as electroweak baryogenesis, post-inflationary reheating, and chiral condensate ordering ordering in heavy ion collisions, involve non-equilibrium dynamics of finite temperature quantum field theories. Such problems involve a fascinating (and challenging) interplay of quantum dynamics and coherence, statistical mechanics, kinetic theory, and hydrodynamics. This INT program will focus on recent theoretical advances in the understanding of non-equilibrium QFT dynamics.

Specific topics which are expected to receive focused attention during this program include:

• Topological transition rates in high temperature gauge theories.
• Effective theories for real-time high-temperature dynamics.
• Post-inflationary reheating and thermalization.
• Ab-initio calculation of transport coefficients and hydrodynamic response.
• Validity of models of chiral condensate ordering.
• Numerical techniques for non-perturbative real-time dynamics.

If you are interested in attending, please contact one of the organizers or the INT program coordinator. An application form, current week's seminar schedule, working directory of participants, and texts of this program's seminars are available.