Kinetic theory of quantum electrodynamic plasma in a strong electromagnetic field: II. the covariant mean-field approximation

摘要

A covariant kinetic equation for the matrix Wigner function is derived in the mean-field approximation from a general kinetic equation for the fermionic subsystem of a quantum electrodynamic plasma. We show that in the semiclassical limit, the equations for the components of the Wigner function can be transformed into closed kinetic equations for the Lorentz-invariant distribution functions of particles and antiparticles.