Entropy production and isotropization in Yang-Mills theory using a quantum distribution function

Abstract

We investigate the thermalization process from a glasma-like initial condition in a static box in terms of the Husimi–Wehrl (HW) entropy defined with the Husimi function, a quantum distribution function in a phase space. We calculate the semiclassical time evolution of the HW entropy in Yang–Mills field theory with the phenomenological initial field configuration given by mimicking the McLerran–Venugopalan model in a static box, which has instability triggered by initial field fluctuations. Husimi–Wehrl entropy production implies the thermalization of the system and it reflects the underlying dynamics such as chaoticity and instability. By comparing the production rate with the Kolmogorov–Sinaï rate, we find that the HW entropy production rate is significantly larger than that expected from chaoticity. We also show that the HW entropy is finally saturated when the system reaches a quasi-stationary state. The saturation time of the HW entropy is comparable with that of pressure isotropization, which is around 1 fm/c in the present calculation.