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

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4792257· OSTI ID:22113459

Asenjo, Felipe A.; Mahajan, Swadesh M. ^[1]; Qadir, Asghar ^[2]

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1. Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)
2. Centre for Advanced Mathematics and Physics, National University of Sciences and Technology, H12, Islamabad 4400 (Pakistan)

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.

• OSTI ID: 22113459
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASTROPHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
FLUIDS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATION
HOT PLASMA
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
ORBITS
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCHWARZSCHILD METRIC
SPACE-TIME
THERMODYNAMICS
VORTICES