The derivation of the quantum kinetic equation and the two-time resolvent method

Van Hove's partial density matrix, _E (t), in his generalized master equation is interpreted as a Wigner representation of two-time dyad for energy E and time t. This interpretation enables us to integrate the energyE in Van Hove's master equation. The resultant equation is of non-Markov type on two time parameters. Starting with this master equation, the derivation of quantum kinetic equations, including the second-order approximation in the density expansion, is discussed. The scaling of the quantum kinetic equation is examined in detail for a system in which particles interact through the delta shell potential. It is shown that the quantum kinetic equation, including three-particle scattering, may exist for the physical situations of low-energy scattering,high-energy scattering, and for resonance scattering for time scales of the system sufficiently separated. In deriving the quantum kinetic equation, a factorization theorem form-particle distribution functions is proved to arbitrary order in perturbation expansion.