Researchers Determine Wigner Function of Rotating Electrodynamics Plasma with Constant Magnetic Fields

The behaviour of quantum plasmas under extreme conditions remains a challenging area of research, and new insights into these systems are crucial for understanding astrophysical phenomena and potentially developing advanced technologies. M. Kiamari and N. Sadooghi, working on this theory, investigate the quantum properties of a plasma that both rotates and exists within a strong magnetic field, a scenario common in neutron stars and other high-energy environments. Their work determines the Wigner function, a key tool for describing quantum systems, and reveals how rotation introduces an asymmetry in the pressure within the plasma. This research establishes a clear link between the fundamental quantum properties of the plasma and its macroscopic thermodynamic behaviour, offering a deeper understanding of these complex systems and validating existing theoretical models.

Relativistic Heavy Ions and Strong Magnetic Fields

This research focuses on understanding the behavior of strongly interacting matter created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, a state known as quark-gluon plasma. Scientists investigate how this plasma responds to extreme conditions, specifically the combined influence of rapid rotation and intense magnetic fields, combining theoretical frameworks like quantum kinetic theory and relativistic hydrodynamics. Researchers aim to connect theoretical predictions with experimental observations from facilities like RHIC and the LHC, seeking to unravel the properties of this exotic state of matter and explore phenomena such as the chiral magnetic and vortical effects.

Wigner Function Analysis of Rotating QED Plasma

Scientists developed a sophisticated method to investigate the behavior of quantum electrodynamics (QED) plasma undergoing rigid rotation in the presence of a magnetic field, centering on the Wigner function, a mathematical tool for describing quantum states in phase space. Adapting this function for use in curved spacetime, they accounted for the effects of rotation by formulating the problem within a curved spacetime, effectively simulating rotational motion. This enabled them to derive the Wigner function for the rotating QED plasma, demonstrating it consists of a phase factor incorporating the angular velocity and a kernel representing the Wigner function in flat spacetime with a magnetic field. Solving the equations governing fermion behavior required established techniques for quantizing magnetized particles, providing a foundation for understanding the quantum properties of the rotating plasma, and serving as crucial input for calculating the energy-momentum tensor and electric currents.

Rotating Quark-Gluon Plasma Wigner Function Calculated

Researchers have successfully determined the Wigner function for a rigidly rotating quark-gluon plasma (QGP) existing within a constant magnetic field, advancing understanding of matter under extreme conditions. Building upon previous work, they demonstrated that the angular velocity of the rotating plasma appears as a specific phase factor within the Wigner function, simplifying calculations of the plasma’s properties in a rotating frame. The core of this research lies in calculating the energy-momentum tensor, which describes the density and flux of energy and momentum within the QGP, revealing a complex internal structure. Notably, rigid rotation induces pressure anisotropy within the plasma, disappearing when rotation is absent, aligning with established theoretical predictions, and enabling the computation of associated electric currents.

Rotation Links Quantum Plasma to Macroscopic Properties

This research establishes a connection between the rotation and magnetic field experienced by a plasma and its fundamental properties, specifically its energy-momentum tensor and electric currents. By calculating the Wigner function, a quantum mechanical description of the plasma, the team demonstrates that rigid rotation induces pressure anisotropy, validating the approach and providing a deeper understanding of how rotation modifies plasma behavior. The study successfully links microscopic quantum effects, described by the Wigner function, to macroscopic properties like pressure and current, offering insights into the collective behavior of particles in extreme conditions, and revealing a more complex stress distribution within the plasma than would be present in a static or non-rotating system. While the current work focuses on a specific scenario, the authors acknowledge the need to explore the impact of additional factors in future research, providing a foundation for understanding plasmas in astrophysical settings and potentially in laboratory experiments involving strong magnetic fields and rotating systems.