Published November 4, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Vortical Dynamics of Spinning Quantum Plasmas: Helicity Conservation

  • 1. Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)

Description

It is shown that a vorticity, constructed from the spin field of a quantum spinning plasma, combines with the classical generalized vorticity (representing the magnetic and the velocity fields) to yield a new grand generalized vorticity that obeys the standard vortex dynamics. Expressions for the quantum or spin vorticity and for the resulting generalized helicity invariant are derived. Reduction of the rather complex spinning quantum system to a well known and highly investigated classical form opens familiar channels for the delineation of physics peculiar to dense plasmas spanning solid state to astrophysical objects. A simple example is worked out to show that the magnetics of a spinning plasma can be much richer than that of the corresponding classical system.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
107
Journal Issue
19
Journal Page Range
p. 195003-195003.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43083857
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ASTROPHYSICS; HELICITY; QUANTUM PLASMA; SPIN; VELOCITY
Descriptors DEC
ANGULAR MOMENTUM; PARTICLE PROPERTIES; PHYSICS; PLASMA

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics