Magnetohydrodynamics as Superfluidity

Armas, Jay; Jain, Akash

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.

Citation

Armas, J., & Jain, A. (2019). Magnetohydrodynamics as Superfluidity. Physical Review Letters, 122(14), Article 141603. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.122.141603

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 12, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2019
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 122
• Issue: 14
• Article Number: 141603
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.122.141603