By Gregory V Vereshchagin and Alexey G Aksenov
Cambridge University Press
This book provides an overview of relativistic kinetic theory, from its theoretical foundations to its applications, passing through the various numerical methods used when analytical solutions of complex equations cannot be obtained.
Kinematic theory (KT) was born in the 19th century and aims to derive the properties of macroscopic matter from the properties of its constituent microscopic particles. The formulation of KT within special relativity was completed in the 1960s.
Relativistic KT has traditional applications in astrophysics and cosmology, two fields that tend to rely on observations rather than experiments. But it is now becoming more accessible to direct tests due to recent progress in ultra-intense lasers and inertial fusion, generating growing interest in KT in recent years.
The book has three parts. The first deals with the fundamental equations and methods of the theory, starting with the evolution of the basic concept of KT from nonrelativistic to special and general relativistic frameworks. The second part gives an introduction to computational physics and describes the main numerical methods used in relativistic KT. In the third part, a range of applications of relativistic KT are presented, including wave dispersion and thermalisation of relativistic plasma, kinetics of self-gravitating systems, cosmological structure formation, and neutrino emission during gravitational collapse.
Written by two experts in the field, the book is intended for students who are already familiar with both special and general relativity and with quantum electrodynamics.
