Distribution function and conductivity of a system of charged particles in linear response theory: the nonequilibrium statistical operator method and the kinetic equation method

In the static limit we investigate the generalized kinetic equation for the linearized distribution function of the electrons in a plasma that was obtained in our earlier study [1] by the nonequilibrium statistical operator method. The solution of this equation outside the framework of perturbation theory and its connection with Kubo's theory are discussed. Perturbation theory with respect to the interparticle interaction is considered; it leads to the Lenard–Balescu kinetic equation for a weakly nonideal plasma. Difficulties related to construction of an internally consistent perturbation theory are noted.