title: Quantum maximum entropy principle for a system of identical particles.
abstract: By introducing a functional of the reduced density matrix, we generalize the definition of a quantum entropy which incorporates the indistinguishability principle of a system of identical particles. With the present definition, the principle of quantum maximum entropy permits us to solve the closure problem for a quantum hydrodynamic set of balance equations corresponding to an arbitrary number of moments in the framework of extended thermodynamics. The determination of the reduced Wigner function for equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions is found to become possible only by assuming that the Lagrange multipliers can be expanded in powers of variant Planck's over 2pi(2). Quantum contributions are expressed in powers of variant Planck's over 2pi(2) while classical results are recovered in the limit variant Planck's over 2pi-->0 .
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trovato
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reggiani