Plasma physics in noninertial frames (original) (raw)
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Covariant gyrokinetic description of relativistic plasmas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2004
A fundamental aspect of many plasma-related astrophysical problems is the kinetic description of magnetized relativistic plasmas in intense gravitational fields, such as in accretion disks around compact gravitating bodies. The goal of this paper is to formulate a gyrokinetic description for a Vlasov-Maxwell plasma within the framework of general relativity. A closed set of relativistic gyrokinetic equations, consisting of the collisionless gyrokinetic equation and corresponding expressions for the four-current density, is derived for an arbitrary four-dimensional coordinate system. General relativity effects are taken into account via the tetrad formalism. The guiding-center dynamics of charged particles and the gyrokinetic transformation are obtained accurate to the second order of the ratio of the Larmor radius to the nonuniformity scale length. The wave terms with arbitrary wavelength (kρ L ∼ 1) are described in the second-order (nonlinear) approximation with respect to the amplitude of the wave. The same approximations are used in the derivation of the gyrophase-averaged Maxwell equations. The derivation is based on the perturbative Lagrangian approach with a fully relativistic, four-dimensional covariant formulation. Its results improve on existing limitations of the gyrokinetic theory.
Covariant constitutive relations and relativistic inhomogeneous plasmas
Journal of Mathematical Physics, 2011
The notion of a two-point susceptibility kernel used to describe linear electromagnetic responses of dispersive continuous media in non-relativistic phenomena is generalized to accommodate the constraints required of a causal formulation in spacetimes with background gravitational fields. In particular the concepts of spatial material inhomogeneity and temporal non-stationarity are formulated within a fully covariant spacetime framework. This framework is illustrated by re-casting the Maxwell-Vlasov equations for a collisionless plasma in a form that exposes a 2-point electromagnetic susceptibility kernel in spacetime. This permits the establishment of a perturbative scheme for non-stationary inhomogeneous plasma configurations. Explicit formulae for the perturbed kernel are derived in both the presence and absence of gravitation using the general solution to the relativistic equations of motion of the plasma constituents. In the absence of gravitation this permits an analysis of collisionless damping in terms of a system of integral equations that reduce to standard Landau damping of Langmuir modes when the perturbation refers to a homogeneous stationary plasma configuration. It is concluded that constitutive modelling in terms of a 2-point susceptibility kernel in a covariant spacetime framework offers a natural extension of standard non-relativistic descriptions of simple media and that its use for describing linear responses of more general dispersive media has wide applicability in relativistic plasma modelling.
Relativistic particle, fluid and plasma mechanics coupled to gravity
arXiv: Mathematical Physics, 2005
In this introductory review article, we explore the special relativistic equations of particle motions and the consequent derivation of Einstein's famous formula E=mc2E=mc^2E=mc2. Next, we study the special relativistic electromagnetic field equations and generalizations of Lorentz equations of motion for charged particles. We then introduce the special relativistic gravitational field as a symmetric second order tensor field. Particle motions in the presence of static gravity are explored which could be used to study planetary dynamics, revealing perihelion shifts. Next, we investigate the system of consisting of pressureless plasmas and neutral perfect fluids coupled to the gravitational field. In that arena, we derive the relativistic Euler equation. Finally, we investigate the relativistic dynamics of a perfect fluid plasma and extensions to viscous flow and derive the relativistic Navier-Stokes equation.
Physics of Plasmas, 2014
The kinetic description of relativistic plasmas in the presence of time-varying and spatially nonuniform electromagnetic (EM) fields is a fundamental theoretical issue both in astrophysics and plasma physics. This refers, in particular, to the treatment of collisionless and strongly-magnetized plasmas in the presence of intense radiation sources. In this paper, the problem is investigated in the framework of a covariant gyrokinetic treatment for Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria. The existence of a new class of kinetic equilibria is pointed out, which occur for spatially-symmetric systems. These equilibria are shown to exist in the presence of non-uniform background EM fields and curved space-time. In the non-relativistic limit, this feature permits the determination of kinetic equilibria even for plasmas in which particle energy is not conserved due to the occurrence of explicitly time-dependent EM fields. Finally, absolute stability criteria are established which apply in the case of infinitesimal symmetric perturbations that can be either externally or internally produced. V C 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.
Journal of Plasma Physics, 2018
A family of Lorentz invariant scalar functions of the magnetic field is defined in an ideal relativistic plasma. These invariants are advected by the plasma fluid motion and play the role of the potential magnetic field introduced by Hide in (Ann. Geophys., vol. 1, 1983, 59) along the lines of Ertel’s theorem. From these invariants we recover the Cauchy conditions for the magnetic field components in the mapping from Eulerian to Lagrangian variables. In addition, the adopted procedure allows us to formulate, in a Lorentz invariant form, the Alfvén theorem for the conservation of the magnetic flux through a surface comoving with the plasma.
Covariant Lagrangian Methods of Relativistic Plasma Theory
2003
We obtain a covariant decomposition of the motion of a relativistic charged particle into parallel motion and perpendicular gyration, and transform to guiding-center coordinates using Lie transforms. The natural guiding-center Poisson bracket structure and Hamiltonian are derived. The guiding-center equations of motion are presented to one order higher than the usual drifts, and the correction to the gyromomentum is given.
Kinetic theory of the plasma-dynamical modes and the transport coefficients of a relativistic plasma
Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 1975
The kinetic equation of an inhomogeneous relativistic plasma, consisting of an electron gas and a radiation field, is studied with particular regard to its eigenvalues in the hydrodynamical limit. The treatment is classical for the particles and quantum-mechanical for the field oscillators. After a suitable regularization, the eigenvalues are obtained by a perturbation theory through second order in the strength of the gradients. It is shown that these eigenvalues are in exact correspondence with the macroscopic relativistic plasma-dynamical modes. The important role played by the Vlassov operator in building up the peculiar structure of these modes is underlined. From a comparison of the macroscopic and microscopic eigenvalues we obtain general expressions for the thermal conductivity, the shear viscosity and the bulk viscosity of a relativistic plasma. The contribution of the radiation field to these quantities is a noteworthy feature of these expressions.
Physics of Plasmas, 2011
A largely unsolved theoretical issue in controlled fusion research is the consistent kinetic treatment of slowly-time varying plasma states occurring in collisionless and magnetized axisymmetric plasmas. The phenomenology may include finite pressure anisotropies as well as strong toroidal and poloidal differential rotation, characteristic of Tokamak plasmas. Despite the fact that physical phenomena occurring in fusion plasmas depend fundamentally on the microscopic particle phase-space dynamics, their consistent kinetic treatment remains still essentially unchalleged to date. The goal of this paper is to address the problem within the framework of Vlasov-Maxwell description. The gyrokinetic treatment of charged particles dynamics is adopted for the construction of asymptotic solutions for the quasi-stationary species kinetic distribution functions. These are expressed in terms of the particle exact and adiabatic invariants. The theory relies on a perturbative approach, which permits to construct asymptotic analytical solutions of the Vlasov-Maxwell system. In this way, both diamagnetic and energy corrections are included consistently into the theory. In particular, by imposing suitable kinetic constraints, the existence of generalized bi-Maxwellian asymptotic kinetic equilibria is pointed out. The theory applies for toroidal rotation velocity of the order of the ion thermal speed. These solutions satisfy identically also the constraints imposed by the Maxwell equations, i.e. quasi-neutrality and Ampere's law. As a result, it is shown that, in the presence of non-uniform fluid and EM fields, these kinetic equilibria can sustain simultaneously toroidal differential rotation, quasi-stationary finite poloidal flows and temperature anisotropy.
Nonminimal electrodynamics and resonance interactions in a relativistic plasma
Gravitation and Cosmology, 2009
A three-parameter toy-model, which describes a non-minimal coupling of gravity field with electromagnetic field of a relativistic two-component electrically neutral plasma, is discussed. Resonance interactions between particles and transversal waves in plasma are shown to take place due to the curvature coupling effect.