Search

We first revisit impact-parameter dependent collisions of ultra-relativistic particles in quantum field theory. Two conditions sufficient for defining an impact-parameter dependent cross section are given, which could be violated in proton-proton collisions. By imposing these conditions, a general formula for the impact-parameter dependent cross section is derived. Then, using soft-collinear effective theory, we derive a factorization formula for the impact-parameter dependent cross section for inclusive hard processes with only colorless final-state products in hadron and nuclear collisions. It entails defining thickness beam functions, which are Fourier transforms of transverse phase-space parton distribution functions. By modelling non-perturbative modes in thickness beam functions of large nuclei in heavy-ion collisions, the factorization formula confirms the cross section in the Glauber model for hard processes. Besides, the factorization formula is verified up to one loop in perturbative QCD for the inclusive Drell-Yan process in quark-antiquark collisions at a finite impact parameter., Comment: Version published in JHEP, only few typos corrected

We study the Boltzmann equation with elastic point-like scalar interactions in two different versions of the the classical approximation. Although solving numerically the Boltzmann equation with the unapproximated collision term poses no problem, this allows one to study the effect of the ultraviolet cutoff in these approximations. This cutoff dependence in the classical approximations of the Boltzmann equation is closely related to the non-renormalizability of the classical statistical approximation of the underlying quantum field theory. The kinetic theory setup that we consider here allows one to study in a much simpler way the dependence on the ultraviolet cutoff, since one has also access to the non-approximated result for comparison., 37 pages, 21 figures

In this paper, we discuss questions related to the renormalizability of the classical statistical approximation, an approximation scheme that has been used recently in several studies of out-of-equilibrium problems in Quantum Field Theory. Although the ultraviolet power counting in this approximation scheme is identical to that of the unapproximated quantum field theory, this approximation is not renormalizable. The leading cause of this non-renormalizability is the breakdown of Weinberg's theorem in this approximation. We also discuss some practical implications of this negative result for simulations that employ this approximation scheme, and we speculate about a possible modification of the classical statistical approximation in order to systematically subtract the leading residual divergences., Comment: 31 pages, 29 figures