Dissipative Magnetohydrodynamics Research Articles

Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Hall Effect in Dense Electron-Ion Plasma

In this study, we examine thermal conductivity and the thermal Hall effect in electron-ion plasmas relevant to hot neutron stars, white dwarfs, and binary neutron star mergers, focusing on densities found in the outer crusts of neutron stars and the interiors of white dwarfs. We consider plasma consisting of single species of ions, which could be either iron [56]Fe or carbon [12]C nuclei. The temperature range explored is from the melting temperature of the solid T∼109 K up to 1011 K. This covers both degenerate and non-degenerate electron regimes. We find that thermal conductivity increases with density and temperature for which we provide analytical scaling relations valid in different regimes. The impact of magnetic fields on thermal conductivity is also analyzed, showing anisotropy in low-density regions and the presence of the thermal Hall effect characterized by the Righi–Leduc coefficient. The transition froma degenerate to non-degenerate regime is characterized by a minimum ratio of thermal conductivity to temperature, which is analogous to the minimum observed already in the case of electrical conductivity. We provide also formulas fit to our numerical results, which can be used in dissipative magneto-hydrodynamics simulations of warm compact stars.

Relativistic dissipative magnetohydrodynamics from the Boltzmann equation for a two-component gas

Relativistic dissipative magnetohydrodynamics from the Boltzmann equation for a two-component gas

Dissipative Non-Slip MHD Nanofluid Flow with Variable Viscousity and Thermal Conductivity in the Presence of Arrhenius Chemical Reaction

This research investigates the intricate dynamics of dissipative non-slip magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) nanofluid flow, characterized by variable viscosity and thermal conductivity, under the influence of an Arrhenius chemical reaction. The inclusion of the Arrhenius chemical reaction adds complexity through heat generation or absorption, impacting temperature and concentration gradients. The study is motivated by the extensive applications of nanofluids in engineering and industrial processes, where precise control of heat and mass transfer is critical. We develop a comprehensive mathematical model that incorporates the variable properties of the nanofluid, the effects of the Lorentz force due to the applied magnetic field, and the temperature-dependent reaction rates dictated by the Arrhenius equation. The formulated governing equations were non-dimensionalised to identify the flow governing parameters. Finite Element Method (FEM), grid generation, solution algorithms, and post-processing to analyse velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions were used to obtain the numerical methods to solve fluid flow problems based on the Navier-Stokes equations, involving concepts of discretization. pdsolve subpackage in Maple 2023 was used to numerically solve PDEs with specific initial and boundary conditions, incorporating the plot and display commands for graphical analysis, and the results are presented and discussed. The findings reveal that the interplay between parameters like Hartmann number, Darcy parameter, and heat generation or absorption profoundly influences flow behaviour and thermal characteristics. The reactivity parameter is crucial, dictating the rate of chemical reactions and affecting system dynamics. This research enhances understanding of the interdependencies among fluid properties, chemical reactions, and external parameters in nanofluid flows.

The Statistical Mechanics of Ideal Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence and a Solution of the Dynamo Problem

We review and extend the theory of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. The theory contains a solution to the ‘dynamo problem’, i.e., the problem of determining how a planetary or stellar body produces a global dipole magnetic field. We extend the theory to the case of ideal MHD turbulence with a mean magnetic field that is aligned with a rotation axis. The existing theory is also extended by developing the thermodynamics of ideal MHD turbulence based on entropy. A mathematical model is created by Fourier transforming the MHD equations and dynamical variables, resulting in a dynamical system consisting of the independent Fourier coefficients of the velocity and magnetic fields. This dynamical system has a large but finite-dimensional phase space in which the phase flow is divergenceless in the ideal case. There may be several constants of the motion, in addition to energy, which depend on the presence, or lack thereof, of a mean magnetic field or system rotation or both imposed on the magnetofluid; this leads to five different cases of MHD turbulence that must be considered. The constants of the motion (ideal invariants)—the most important being energy and magnetic helicity—are used to construct canonical probability densities and partition functions that enable ensemble predictions to be made. These predictions are compared with time averages from numerical simulations to test whether or not the system is ergodic. In the cases most pertinent to planets and stars, nonergodicity is observed at the largest length-scales and occurs when the components of the dipole field become quasi-stationary and dipole energy is directly proportional to magnetic helicity. This nonergodicity is evident in the thermodynamics, while dipole alignment with a rotation axis may be seen as the result of dynamical symmetry breaking, i.e., ‘broken ergodicity’. The relevance of ideal theoretical results to real (forced, dissipative) MHD turbulence is shown through numerical simulation. Again, an important result is a statistical solution of the ‘dynamo problem’.

High-frequency dissipative MHD waves in straight magnetic cylindrical plasma: Coronal loops heating application

The theoretical model for analyzing the waves and oscillatory behavior in the structured solar corona using straight magnetic cylindrical geometry filled with uniform low-β plasma has been recognized as the most preferable classical model for the last few decades. A number of observations, since the first observation of the transition region and coronal explorer to the latest ones, have been adequately explained by adopting this model. In order to analytically formulate the oscillatory characteristics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, most of the studies have considered the nature of plasma as an ideal fluid, particularly in the context of solar physics. However, a departure from ideal plasma consideration to non-ideal may lead to a number of modifications in the characteristics of the MHD waves, including its damping too. In what follows, we derive a more general analytical dispersion relation by extending the classical dispersion relation of [Edwin and Roberts, “Wave propagation in a magnetic cylinder,” Sol. Phys. 88, 179–191 (1983)] taking into account the effect of plasma viscosity as a non-ideal term in the existing formulations of the classical model. Consequently, the effects of viscosity on the damping of sausage and kink modes are examined in detail. Multiple trapped body waves of different frequencies exist for both kink and sausage modes in which trapped sausage body wave of comparatively high frequency is damped potentially to generate enough energy to balance the radiative losses of the coronal loop regions. For the coronal loop's plasma parameters, it is found that trapped first radial overtone body wave of sausage type is able to balance the radiative losses of coronal loop structure provided magnetic field strength does not exceed its value of more than 20G.

Relativistic dissipative magnetohydrodynamics from the Boltzmann equation for 2-particle species gas

We derive the equations of motion of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics from the Boltzmann equation using the method of moments. We consider a locally electrically neutral system composed of two particle species with opposite charges, with vanishing dipole moment or spin, so that the fluid has vanishing magnetization and polarization. We find that the dynamics of this fluid changes dramatically in the presence of a magnetic field. The shear stress tensor no longer adheres to a single differential equation; instead, it splits into three non-degenerate components, each evolving according to distinct dynamical equations. Exploring these equations in a Bjorken flow scenario, we find that for large magnetic fields, our theory predicts oscillatory behavior beyond the scope of an Israel-Stewart-like theory.

Transition to Equilibrium and Coherent Structure in Ideal MHD Turbulence, Part 2

We continue our study of the transition of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence from non-equilibrium initial conditions to equilibrium using long-time numerical simulations on a 1283 periodic grid. A Fourier spectral transform method is used to numerically integrate the dynamical equations forward in time. The six runs that previously went to near equilibrium are here extended into equilibrium. As before, we neglect dissipation as we are primarily concerned with behavior at the largest scale where this behavior has been shown to be essentially the same for ideal and real (forced and dissipative) MHD turbulence. These six runs have various combinations of imposed rotation and mean magnetic field and represent the five cases of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, and MHD turbulence: Case I (Run 1), with no rotation or mean field; Case II (Runs 2a and 2b), where only rotation is imposed; Case III (Run 3), which has only a mean magnetic field; Case IV (Run 4), where rotation vector and mean magnetic field direction are aligned; and Case V (Run 5), which has non-aligned rotation vector and mean field directions. Statistical mechanics predicts that dynamic Fourier coefficients are zero-mean random variables, but largest-scale coherent magnetic structures emerge and manifest themselves as Fourier coefficients with very large, quasi-steady, mean values compared to their standard deviations, i.e., there is ‘broken ergodicity.’ These magnetic coherent structures appeared in all cases during transition to near equilibrium. Here, we report that, as the runs were continued, these coherent structures remained quasi-steady and energetic only in Cases I and II, while Case IV maintained its coherent structure but at comparatively low energy. The coherent structures that appeared in transition in Cases III and V were seen to collapse as their associated runs extended into equilibrium. The creation of largest-scale, coherent magnetic structure appears to be a dynamo process inherent in ideal MHD turbulence, particularly in Cases I and II, i.e., those cases most pertinent to planets and stars. Furthermore, the statistical theory of ideal MHD turbulence has proven to apply at the largest scale, even when dissipation and forcing are included. This, along with the discovery and explanation of dynamically broken ergodicity, is essentially a solution to the ‘dynamo problem’.

Transition to Equilibrium and Coherent Structure in Ideal MHD Turbulence

Transition of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence to near-equilibrium from non-equilibrium initial conditions is examined through new long-time numerical simulations on a 1283 periodic grid. Here, we neglect dissipation because we are primarily concerned with behavior at the largest scale which has been shown to be essentially the same for ideal and real (forced and dissipative) MHD turbulence. A Fourier spectral transform method is used to numerically integrate the dynamical equations forward in time and results from six computer runs are presented with various combinations of imposed rotation and mean magnetic field. There are five separate cases of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, MHD turbulence: Case I, with no rotation or mean field; Case II, where only rotation is imposed; Case III, which has only a mean magnetic field; Case IV, where rotation vector and mean magnetic field direction are aligned; and Case V, which has nonaligned rotation vector and mean field directions. Dynamic coefficients are predicted by statistical mechanics to be zero-mean random variables, but largest-scale coherent magnetic structures emerge in all cases during transition; this implies dynamo action is inherent in ideal MHD turbulence. These coherent structures are expected to occur in Cases I, II and IV, but not in Cases III and V; future studies will determine whether they persist.

Charge diffusion in relativistic resistive second-order dissipative magnetohydrodynamics

We study charge diffusion in relativistic resistive second-order dissipative magnetohydrodynamics. In this theory, charge diffusion is not simply given by the standard Navier-Stokes form of Ohm's law, but by an evolution equation which ensures causality and stability. This, in turn, leads to transient effects in the charge diffusion current, the nature of which depends on the particular values of the electrical conductivity and the charge-diffusion relaxation time. The ensuing equations of motion are of so-called stiff character, which requires special care when solving them numerically. To this end, we specifically develop an implicit-explicit Runge-Kutta method for solving relativistic resistive second-order dissipative magnetohydrodynamics and subject it to various tests. We then study the system's evolution in a simplified 1+1-dimensional scenario for a heavy-ion collision, where matter and electromagnetic fields are assumed to be transversely homogeneous, and investigate the cases of an initially non-expanding fluid and a fluid initially expanding according to a Bjorken scaling flow. In the latter case, the scale invariance is broken by the ensuing self-consistent dynamics of matter and electromagnetic fields. However, the breaking becomes quantitatively important only if the electromagnetic fields are sufficiently strong. The breaking of scale invariance is larger for smaller values of the conductivity. Aspects of entropy production from charge diffusion currents and stability are also discussed.

Relativistic Spin Magnetohydrodynamics.

Starting from the kinetic theory description of massive spin-1/2 particles in the presence of a magnetic field, equations for relativistic dissipative nonresistive magnetohydrodynamics are obtained in the small polarization limit. We use a relaxation-time approximation for the collision kernel in the relativistic Boltzmann equation and calculate nonequilibrium corrections to the phase-space distribution function of spin-polarizable particles. We demonstrate that our framework naturally leads to emergence of the well-known Einstein-de Haas and Barnett effects. We obtain multiple transport coefficients and show, for the first time, that the coupling between spin and magnetic field appear at gradient order in the hydrodynamic equation.

A stable and causal model of magnetohydrodynamics

We formulate the theory of first-order dissipative magnetohydrodynamics in an arbitrary hydrodynamic frame under the assumption of parity-invariance and discrete charge symmetry. We study the mode spectrum of Alfvén and magnetosonic waves as well as the spectrum of gapped excitations and derive constraints on the transport coefficients such that generic equilibrium states with constant magnetic fields are stable and causal under linearised perturbations. We solve these constraints for a specific equation of state and show that there exists a large family of hydrodynamic frames that renders the linear fluctuations stable and causal. This theory does not require introducing new dynamical degrees of freedom and therefore is a promising and simpler alternative to Müller-Israel-Stewart-type theories. Together with a detailed analysis of transport, entropy production and Kubo formulae, the theory presented here is well suited for studying dissipative effects in various contexts ranging from heavy-ion collisions to astrophysics.

Modelling general-relativistic plasmas with collisionless moments and dissipative two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics

ABSTRACT Relativistic plasmas are central to the study of black hole accretion, jet physics, neutron star mergers, and compact object magnetospheres. Despite the need to accurately capture the dynamics of these plasmas and the implications for relativistic transients, their fluid modelling is typically done using a number of (overly) simplifying assumptions, which do not hold in general. This is especially true when the mean free path in the plasma is large compared to the system size, and kinetic effects start to become important. Going beyond common approaches used in the literature, we describe a fully relativistic covariant 14-moment based two-fluid system appropriate for the study of electron–ion or electron–positron plasmas. This generalized Israel-Stewart-like system of equations of motion is obtained directly from the relativistic Boltzmann–Vlasov equation. This new formulation can account for non-ideal effects, such as anisotropic pressures and heat fluxes, not present in previous formulations of two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics. We show that a relativistic two-fluid plasma can be recast as a single fluid coupled to electromagnetic fields with (potentially large) out-of-equilibrium corrections. We keep all electron degrees of freedom, which provide self-consistent evolution equations for electron temperature and momentum. The out-of-equilibrium corrections take the form of a collisional 14-moment closure previously described in the context of viscous single fluids. The equations outlined in this paper are able to capture the full two-fluid character of collisionless plasmas found in black hole accretion and flaring processes around compact objects, as well Braginskii-like two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics applicable to weakly collisional plasmas inside accretion discs.

Dissipative magnetohydrodynamics for nonresistive relativistic plasmas: An implicit second-order flux-conservative formulation with stiff relaxation

Based on a 14-moment closure for nonresistive (general-) relativistic viscous plasmas, we describe a new numerical scheme that is able to handle all first-order dissipative effects (heat conduction, bulk and shear viscosities), as well the anisotropies induced by the presence of magnetic fields. The latter is parametrized in terms of a thermal gyrofrequency or, equivalently, a thermal Larmor radius and allows to correctly capture the thermal Hall effect. By solving an extended Israel-Stewart-like system for the dissipative quantities that enforces algebraic constraints via stiff-relaxation, we are able to cast all first-order dissipative terms in flux-divergence form. This allows us to apply traditional high-resolution shock capturing methods to the equations, making the system suitable for the numerical study of highly turbulent flows. We present several numerical tests to assess the robustness of our numerical scheme in flat spacetime. The 14-moment closure can seamlessly interpolate between the highly collisional limit found in neutron star mergers, and the highly anisotropic limit of relativistic Braginskii magnetohydrodynamics appropriate for weakly collisional plasmas in black-hole accretion problems. We believe that this new formulation and numerical scheme will be useful for a broad class of relativistic magnetized flows.

Relativistic resistive dissipative magnetohydrodynamics from the relaxation time approximation

Here we derive the relativistic resistive dissipative second-order magnetohydrodynamic evolution equations using the Boltzmann equation, thus extending our work from the previous paper \href{https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP03(2021)216}{JHEP 03 (2021) 216} where we considered the non-resistive limit. We solve the Boltzmann equation for a system of particles and antiparticles using the relaxation time approximation and the Chapman-Enskog like gradient expansion for the off-equilibrium distribution function, truncating beyond second-order. In the first order, the bulk and shear stress are independent of the electromagnetic field, however, the diffusion current, shows a dependence on the electric field. In the first order, the transport coefficients~(shear and bulk stress) are shown to be independent of the electromagnetic field. The diffusion current, however, shows a dependence on the electric field. In the second-order, the new transport coefficients that couple electromagnetic field with the dissipative quantities appear, which are different from those obtained in the 14-moment approximation~\cite{Denicol:2019iyh} in the presence of the electromagnetic field. Also we found out the various components of conductivity in this case.

Optimal decay rates and the global attractors of the 2D fully dissipative magnetohydrodynamics system

Optimal decay rates and the global attractors of the 2D fully dissipative magnetohydrodynamics system

A general metriplectic framework with application to dissipative extended magnetohydrodynamics

General equations for conservative yet dissipative (entropy producing) extended magnetohydrodynamics are derived from two-fluid theory. Keeping all terms generates unusual cross-effects, such as thermophoresis and a current viscosity that mixes with the usual velocity viscosity. While the Poisson bracket of the ideal version of this model has already been discovered, we determine its metriplectic counterpart that describes the dissipation. This is done using a new and general thermodynamic point of view to derive dissipative brackets, a means of derivation that is natural for understanding and creating dissipative dynamics without appealing to underlying kinetic theory orderings. Finally, the formalism is used to study dissipation in the Lagrangian variable picture where, in the context of extended magnetohydrodynamics, non-local dissipative brackets naturally emerge.

Dissipative relativistic magnetohydrodynamics of a multicomponent mixture and its application to neutron stars

We formulate hydrodynamic equations for nonsuperfluid multicomponent magnetized charged relativistic mixtures, taking into account chemical reactions as well as viscosity, diffusion, thermodiffusion, and thermal conductivity effects. The resulting equations have a rather simple form and can be readily applied, e.g., for studying magnetothermal evolution of neutron stars. We also establish a link between our formalism and the results known in the literature and express the phenomenological diffusion coefficients through momentum transfer rates which are calculated from microscopic theory.

FINMHD: An Adaptive Finite-element Code for Magnetic Reconnection and Formation of Plasmoid Chains in Magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract Solving the problem of fast eruptive events in magnetically dominated astrophysical plasmas requires the use of particularly well adapted numerical tools. Indeed, the central mechanism based on magnetic reconnection is determined by a complex behavior with quasi-singular forming current layers enriched by their associated small-scale magnetic islands called plasmoids. A new code is thus presented for the solution of two-dimensional dissipative magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations in cartesian geometry specifically developed to this end. A current–vorticity formulation representative of an incompressible model is chosen in order to follow the formation of the current sheets and the ensuing magnetic reconnection process. A finite-element discretization using triangles with quadratic basis functions on an unstructured grid is employed, and implemented via a highly adaptive characteristic-Galerkin scheme. The adaptivity of the code is illustrated on simplified test equations and finally for magnetic reconnection associated with the nonlinear development of the tilt instability between two repelling current channels. Varying the Lundquist number S has allowed us to study the transition between the steady-state Sweet–Parker reconnection regime (for S ≲ 104) and the plasmoid-dominated reconnection regime (for S ≳ 105). The implications for the understanding of the mechanism explaining the fast conversion of free magnetic energy in astrophysical environments such as the solar corona are briefly discussed.

Computation of Melting Dissipative Magnetohydrodynamic Nanofluid Bioconvection with Second-order Slip and Variable Thermophysical Properties

This paper studies the combined effects of viscous dissipation, first and second-order slip and variable transport properties on phase-change hydromagnetic bio-nanofluid convection flow from a stretching sheet. Nanoscale materials possess a much larger surface to volume ratio than bulk materials, significantly modifying their thermodynamic and thermal properties and substantially lowering the melting point. Gyrotactic non-magnetic micro-organisms are present in the nanofluid. The transport properties are assumed to be dependent on concentration and temperature. Via appropriate similarity variables, the governing equation with boundary conditions are converted to nonlinear ordinary differential equations and are solved using the BVP4C subroutine in the symbolic software MATLAB. The non-dimensional boundary value features a melting (phase change) parameter, temperature-dependent thermal conductive parameter, first as well as second-order slip parameters, mass diffusivity parameter, Schmidt number, microorganism diffusivity parameter, bioconvection Schmidt number, magnetic body force parameter, Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters. Extensive computations are visualized for the influence of these parameters. The present simulation is of relevance in the fabrication of bio-nanomaterials for bio-inspired fuel cells.

Generalised global symmetries in holography: magnetohydrodynamic waves in a strongly interacting plasma

We begin the exploration of holographic duals to theories with generalised global (higher-form) symmetries. In particular, we focus on the case of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in strongly coupled plasmas by constructing and analysing a holographic dual to a recent, generalised global symmetry-based formulation of dissipative MHD. The simplest holographic dual to the effective theory of MHD that was proposed as a description of plasmas with any equation of state and transport coefficients contains dynamical graviton and two-form gauge field fluctuations in a magnetised black brane background. The dual field theory, which is closely related to the large-Nc, mathcal{N} = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at (infinitely) strong coupling, is, as we argue, in our setup coupled to a dynamical U(1) gauge field with a renormalisation condition-dependent electromagnetic coupling. After constructing the holographic dictionary for gauge-gravity duals of field theories with higher-form symmetries, we compute the dual equation of state and transport coefficients, and for the first time analyse phenomenology of MHD waves in a strongly interacting, dense plasma with a (holographic) microscopic description. From weak to extremely strong magnetic fields, several predictions for the behaviour of Alfvén and magnetosonic waves are discussed.