Magnetohydrodynamics as Superfluidity

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 09-04-2019
Journal Physical Review Letters
Article number 141601
Volume | Issue number 122 | 14
Number of pages 6
Organisations
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Institute of Physics (IoP) - Institute for Theoretical Physics Amsterdam (ITFA)
Abstract

We show that relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) can be recast as a novel theory of superfluidity. This new theory formulates MHD just in terms of conservation equations, including dissipative effects, by introducing appropriate variables such as a magnetic scalar potential, and providing necessary and sufficient conditions to obtain equilibrium configurations. We show that this scalar potential can be interpreted as a Goldstone mode originating from the spontaneous breaking of a one-form symmetry, and present the most generic constitutive relations at one derivative order for a parity-preserving plasma in this new superfluid formulation.

Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.141603
Other links https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85064254594
Downloads
PhysRevLett.122.141603 (Final published version)
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