Cutting rules on a cylinder: a bottom-up approach to quantum kinetic theory for the early universe

Abstract: Nonequilibrium quantum field theory is often used to derive an approximation for the evolution of number densities and asymmetries in astroparticle models when a more precise treatment of quantum thermal effects is required. This work presents an alternative framework using the zero-temperature quantum field theory, $S$-matrix unitarity, and classical Boltzmann equation as starting points leading to a set of rules for calculations of thermal corrections to reaction rates. Statistical factors due to on-shell intermediate states are obtained from the cuts of forward diagrams with multiple spectator lines. It turns out that it is equivalent to cutting closed diagrams on a cylindrical surface.