We derive, in noncommutative QED, a gauge covariant quantum equation of motion for the photon Wigner operator. In the classical approximation, this reduces to a simple transport equation which describes the hard thermal effects in this theory. As an example of the effectiveness of this method we show that, to leading order, this equation generates in a direct way the Green amplitudes calculated perturbatively in quantum field theory at high temperature.

• Received 4 July 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.68.085010