Landau theory of a QED plasma

The statistical thermodynamics of hot dense matter is developed as a covariant extension of the Landau quasi-particle theory of Fermi liquids. The basic postulate is that the thermodynamic potential is a functional of one-particle distribution functions. The formalism is given a microscopic foundation by a study of perturbative QED at finite temperature and density. It is shown that a QED plasma can be pictured as a collection of stable quasi-electrons and positrons plus damped collective modes. The transverse plasmon effect is discussed briefly. 26 refs., 2 figs. (author)