A variational approach to relativistic superfluid vortex elasticity
Abstract
It is well known that a superfluid rotates by forming an array of quantized vortices. A relativistic formulation for superfluid vortex dynamics is required for a range of problems in astrophysics and cosmology, from neutron star interiors and radio pulsar glitches to possible dark matter condensates on galactic scales. This paper develops a formalism for such systems, extending the well-established variational approach to relativistic fluids to account for the presence of a collection of quantized vortices. The model is firmly anchored in the geometry of the problem (drawing on aspects from basic string dynamics) and accounts for elastic aspects associated with a vortex array, providing a precise foundation for applications which have so far been based on somewhat ad hoc phenomenology.
- Publication:
-
Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Pub Date:
- April 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1088/1361-6382/ab79d7
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1912.03976
- Bibcode:
- 2020CQGra..37h5014A
- Keywords:
-
- neutron stars;
- fluid dynamics;
- vortices;
- elasticity;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
- E-Print:
- 29 pages, RevTeX preprint format, 1 figure