Diamagnetic field states in cosmological plasmas

Journal Article · 13 May 2019 · Physical Review E

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.99.053204 · OSTI ID:1609571

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

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1. Univ. Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago (Chile)
2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

Using a generally covariant electrovortic (magnetofluid) formalism for relativistic plasmas, the dynamical evolution of a generalized vorticity (a combination of the magnetic and kinematic parts) is studied in a cosmological context. We derive macroscopic vorticity and magnetic field structures that can emerge in spatial equilibrium configurations of the relativistic plasma. Furthermore, these fields, however, evolve in time. These magnetic and velocity fields, self-consistently sustained in a plasma with arbitrary thermodynamics, constitute a diamagnetic state in the expanding universe. In particular, we explore a special class of magnetic and velocity field structures supported by a plasma in which the generalized vorticity vanishes. We derive a highly interesting characteristic of such “superconductor-like” fields in a cosmological plasmas in the radiation era in the early universe. In that case, the fields grow proportional to the scale factor, establishing a deep connection between the expanding universe and the primordial magnetic fields.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: FG02-04ER54742
• OSTI ID: 1609571
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1512335
• Journal Information: Physical Review E, Vol. 99, Issue 5; ISSN 2470-0045
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English