Kinetic theory and Bose-Einstein condensation

In this article we discuss the role played by kinetic theory in describing the non-equilibrium dynamics of dilute systems of weakly interacting bosons. We illustrate how a simple kinetic equation for the time evolution of the spectral particle density can be derived from the spatially homogeneous Gross-Pitaevskii equation. This kinetic equation agrees with the usual Boltzmann-Nordheim equation of quantum kinetic theory in the long wavelength limit where the occupation numbers are expected to be large. The stationary solutions of the Gross-Pitaevskii kinetic equation are described. These include both thermodynamic equilibrium spectra and finite flux Kolmogorov-Zakharov spectra. These latter spectra are intrinsically nonequilibrium states and are expected to be relevant in the transfer of particles to low momenta in the initial stage of the condensation process. This is illustrated by some computations of a solution of the kinetic equation beginning with initial conditions far from equilibrium. The solution generates a flux of particles from large to small momenta which results in a singularity at zero momentum within finite time. We interpret this singularity as incipient condensate formation. We then present some numerical results on the post-singularity dynamics and the approach to equilibrium. Contrary to our original expectations we do not observe the Kolmogorov-Zakharov spectrum during the period of condensate growth. In the closing sections we address the issue of the connection between the Gross-Pitaevskii and Boltzmann-Nordheim kinetic equations. We argue that the two equations have differing regimes of applicability in momentum space, matching in an intermediate range. We make some suggestions of how this matching can be modeled in practice. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier SAS on behalf of Academie des sciences.