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Covariant form of Trubnikov's response tensor for a relativistic magnetized thermal plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1997

D. B. MELROSE
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Theoretical Astrophysics, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Abstract

A covariant version of Vlasov theory is used to derive the linear response 4-tensor for a relativistic magnetized thermal plasma, generalizing Trubnikov's 3-tensor form. The charge-continuity and gauge-invariance conditions imply a set of integral identities, and use of these identities allows one to derive a manifestly gauge invariant form for the response 4-tensor. This form implies an alternative version of Trubnikov's 3-tensor. The different versions lead to different expressions in the weakly relativistic small-gyroradius limit. Arguments are given as to how this inconsistency should be resolved.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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