Felipe A. Asenjo

Vortical dynamics of spinning quantum plasmas: helicity conservation.

It is shown that a vorticity, constructed from the spin field of a quantum spinning plasma, combines with the classical generalized vorticity (representing the magnetic and the velocity fields) to yield a new grand generalized vorticity that obeys the standard vortex dynamics. Expressions for the quantum or spin vorticity and for the resulting generalized helicity invariant are derived. Reduction of the rather complex spinning quantum system to a well known and highly investigated classical form opens familiar channels for the delineation of physics peculiar to dense plasmas spanning solid state to astrophysical objects. A simple example is worked out to show that the magnetics of a spinning plasma can be much richer than that of the corresponding classical system.

Semi-relativistic effects in spin-1/2 quantum plasmas

Emerging possibilities for creating and studying novel plasma regimes, e. g. relativistic plasmas and dense systems, in a controlled laboratory environment also require new modeling tools for such ...

Generalized magnetofluid connections in relativistic magnetohydrodynamics.

The concept of magnetic connections is extended to nonideal relativistic magnetohydrodynamical plasmas. Adopting a general set of equations for relativistic magnetohydrodynamics including thermal-inertial, thermal electromotive, Hall, and current-inertia effects, we derive a new covariant connection equation showing the existence of generalized magnetofluid connections that are preserved during the dissipationless plasma dynamics. These connections are intimately linked to a general antisymmetric tensor that unifies the electromagnetic and fluid fields, allowing the extension of the magnetic connection notion to a much broader concept.

Can gravitation accelerate neutrinos

The Lagrangian equations of motion for massive spinning test particles (tops) moving on a gravitational background using general relativity are presented. The paths followed by tops are nongeodesic. An exact solution for the motion of tops on a Schwarzschild background which allows for superluminal propagation of tops is studied. It is shown that the solution becomes relevant for particles with small masses, such as neutrinos. This general result is used to calculate the necessary condition to produce superluminal motion in part of the trajectory of a small mass particle in a weak gravitational field. The condition for superluminal motion establishes a relation between the mass, energy and total angular momentum of the particle.

Thermal-inertial effects on magnetic reconnection in relativistic pair plasmas.

The magnetic reconnection process is studied in relativistic pair plasmas when the thermal and inertial properties of the magnetohydrodynamical fluid are included. We find that in both Sweet-Parker and Petschek relativistic scenarios there is an increase of the reconnection rate owing to the thermal-inertial effects, both satisfying causality. To characterize the new effects we define a thermal-inertial number which is independent of the relativistic Lundquist number, implying that reconnection can be achieved even for vanishing resistivity as a result of only thermal-inertial effects. The current model has fundamental importance for relativistic collisionless reconnection, as it constitutes the simplest way to get reconnection rates faster than those accessible with the sole resistivity.

A statistical model for relativistic quantum fluids interacting with an intense electromagnetic wave

A statistical model for relativistic quantum fluids interacting with an arbitrary amplitude circularly polarized electromagnetic wave is developed in two steps. First, the energy spectrum and the wave function for a quantum particle (Klein Gordon and Dirac) embedded in the electromagnetic wave are calculated by solving the appropriate eigenvalue problem. The energy spectrum is anisotropic in the momentum K and reflects the electromagnetic field through the renormalization of the rest mass m to M=m2+q2A2. Based on this energy spectrum of this quantum particle plus field combination (QPF), a statistical mechanics model of the quantum fluid made up of these weakly interacting QPF is developed. Preliminary investigations of the formalism yield highly interesting results—a new scale for temperature, and fundamental modification of the dispersion relation of the electromagnetic wave. It is expected that this formulation could, inter alia, uniquely advance our understanding of laboratory as well as astrophysical...

Generalized magnetofluid connections in pair plasmas

We extend the magnetic connection theorem of ideal magnetohydrodynamics to nonideal relativistic pair plasmas. Adopting a generalized Ohms law, we prove the existence of generalized magnetofluid connections that are preserved by the plasma dynamics. We show that these connections are related to a general antisymmetric tensor that unifies the electromagnetic and fluid fields. The generalized magnetofluid connections set important constraints on the plasma dynamics by forbidding transitions between configurations with different magnetofluid connectivity. An approximated solution is explicitly shown where the corrections due to current inertial effects are found.We extend the magnetic connection theorem of ideal magnetohydrodynamics to nonideal relativistic pair plasmas. Adopting a generalized Ohms law, we prove the existence of generalized magnetofluid connections that are preserved by the plasma dynamics. We show that these connections are related to a general antisymmetric tensor that unifies the electromagnetic and fluid fields. The generalized magnetofluid connections set important constraints on the plasma dynamics by forbidding transitions between configurations with different magnetofluid connectivity. An approximated solution is explicitly shown where the corrections due to current inertial effects are found.

Hot Fluids and Nonlinear Quantum Mechanics

A hot relativistic fluid is viewed as a collection of quantum objects that represent interacting elementary particles. We present a conceptual framework for deriving nonlinear equations of motion obeyed by these hypothesized objects. A uniform phenomenological prescription, to affect the quantum transition from a corresponding classical system, is invoked to derive the nonlinear Schrödinger, Klein–Gordon, and Pauli–Schrödinger and Feynman-GellMaan equations. It is expected that the emergent hypothetical nonlinear quantum mechanics would advance, in a fundamental way, both the conceptual understanding and computational abilities, particularly, in the field of extremely high energy-density physics.

Spinning massive test particles in cosmological and general static spherically symmetric spacetimes

A Lagrangian formalism is used to study the motion of a spinning massive particle in Friedmann–Robertson–Walker and Godel spacetimes, as well as in a general Schwarzschild-like spacetime and in static spherically symmetric conformally flat spacetimes. Exact solutions for the motion of the particle and general exact expressions for the momenta and velocities are displayed for different cases. In particular, the solution for the motion in spherically symmetric metrics is presented in the equatorial plane. The exact solutions are found using constants of motion of the particle, namely its mass, its spin, its angular momentum, and a fourth constant, which is its energy when the metric is time-independent, and a different constant otherwise. These constants are associated to Killing vectors. In the case of the motion on the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker metric, a new constant of motion is found. This is the fourth constant which generalizes previously known results obtained for spinless particles. In the case of general Schwarzschild-like spacetimes, our results allow for the exploration of the case of the Reissner–Nordstrom–(Anti)de Sitter metric. Finally, for the case of the conformally flat spacetimes, the solution is explicitly evaluated for different metric tensors associated to a universe filled with static perfect fluids and electromagnetic radiation. For some combination of the values of the constants of motion the particle trajectories may exhibit spacelike velocity vectors in portions of the trajectories.

Generating vorticity and magnetic fields in plasmas in general relativity: Spacetime curvature drive

Using the generally covariant magnetofluid formalism for a hot plasma, a spacetime curvature driven mechanism for generating seed vorticity/magnetic field is presented. The “battery” owes its origin to the interaction between the gravity modified Lorentz factor of the fluid element and the inhomogeneous plasma thermodynamics. The general relativistic drive is evaluated for two simple cases: seed formation in a simplified model of a hot plasma accreting in stable orbits around a Schwarzschild black hole and for particles in free fall near the horizon. Some astrophysical applications are suggested.