It is shown that conformal symmetry exists in force-free electrodynamics (FFE) in Minkowski spacetime, a foundational framework for describing magnetospheres around astronomical objects. In force-free magnetospheres, charges are constrained to move along magnetic field lines and experience zero Lorentz force, due to the everywhere perpendicular orientation of electric and magnetic fields. However, a general angle-preserving conformal mapping of force-free fields does not necessarily produce another physically admissible force-free configuration when sources are present. In this work, we demonstrate that such invariance can nevertheless arise for certain choices of the free functions. Specifically, the governing stream equation is shown to be invariant under Möbius transformations. This symmetry reveals a structural linkage between known solutions and, notably, maps the region inside a magnetospheric horizon (the lightsurface) of one solution to the exterior of its dual counterpart, and vice versa.
We construct conformally scalar NUTty dyon black holes in non-linear electrodynamics (NLE) which possess conformal and duality-rotation symmetries and are characterized by a free dimensionless parameter. The thermodynamic first law of the black hole is formulated. Then we explore the strong gravitational effects of the black hole, mainly focusing on the innermost stable circular orbits (ISCOs) of massive particles and shadows formed by the photons. One of our interesting results is that if the black hole is endowed with a positive real conformal scalar charge rendering it Reissner-Nordström-li…
We construct a novel charged Taub-NUT spacetime, providing a first non-trivial example of a self-gravitating solution to the recently proposed ModMax theory, the most general (1-parametric) theory of non-linear electrodynamics that is characterized by both the conformal symmetry and the $SO(2)$ duality-rotation invariance. The spacetime features non-trivial magnetic fields, in their presence the non-linearity of the field becomes apparent and the solution is distinguished from that of the Maxwell theory. Thermodynamics of the new solution, the charged black hole limit of vanishing NUT paramete…
In this work, we propose an effective action of the two-dimensional conformal field theory for the Soft modes appearing in Quantum ElectroDynamics (QED) in 4 dimensions. This is motivated in two ways. First, we motivate the notion of an effective action for the Soft modes using the path integral formalism. Second, by noting the transformations of the on-shell gauge-fixed QED action, we deduce necessary boundary conditions and the corresponding form of the counter-terms that govern the IR sector. We review a derivation of the Soft Ward-Takahashi identity using path integral methods and offer an…
In this paper we consider a special case of vacuum non-linear electrodynamics with a stress-energy tensor conformal to the Maxwell theory. Distinctive features of this model are: the absence of dimensional parameter for non-linearity description and a very simple form of the dominant energy condition, which can be easily verified in an arbitrary pseudo-riemannian space-time with the consequent constrains on the model parameters. In this paper we analyse some properties of astrophysical compact objects coupled to conformal vacuum non-linear electrodynamics.
We investigate the existence of action for both the electric and magnetic sectors of Galilean Electrodynamics using Helmholtz conditions. We prove the existence of unique action in magnetic limit with the addition of a scalar field in the system. The check also implies the non existence of action in the electric sector of Galilean electrodynamics. Dirac constraint analysis of the theory reveals that there are no local degrees of freedom in the system. Further, the theory enjoys a reduced but an infinite dimensional subalgebra of Galilean conformal symmetry algebra as global symmetries. The ful…
We construct the free Lagrangian of the magnetic sector of Carrollian electrodynamics. The construction relies on Helmholtz integrability condition for differential equations in a self consistent algorithm, working hand in hand with imposing invariance under infinite dimensional Conformal Carroll algebra. It requires inclusion of new fields in the dynamics and the system is free of gauge redundancies. We next add interaction (quartic) terms to the free Lagrangian, strictly constrained by conformal invariance and Carrollian symmetry. The dynamical realization of the non-semi simple infinite dim…
Force-free electrodynamics (FFE) is a closed set of equations for the electromagnetic field of a magnetically dominated plasma. There are strong arguments for the existence of force-free plasmas near pulsars and active black holes, but FFE alone cannot account for the observational signatures, such as coherent radio emission and relativistic jets and winds. We reformulate FFE as the effective field theory of a cold string fluid and initiate a systematic study of corrections in a derivative expansion. At leading order the effective theory is equivalent to (generalized) FFE, with the strings com…
Plasma-filled magnetospheres can extract energy from a spinning black hole and provide the power source for a variety of observed astrophysical phenomena. These magnetospheres are described by the highly nonlinear equations of force-free electrodynamics, or FFE. Typically these equations can only be solved numerically. In this paper we consider the FFE equations very near the horizon of a maximally spinning black hole, where the energy extraction takes place. Thanks to an enhanced conformal symmetry which appears in this near-horizon region, we are able to analytically obtain several infinite …
Quantum electrodynamics (QED) effects may be included in physical processes of magnetar and pulsar magnetospheres with strong magnetic fields. Involving the quantum corrections, the Maxwell electrodynamics is modified to non-linear electrodynamics. In this work, we study the force-free magnetosphere in non-linear electrodynamics in a general framework. The pulsar equation describing a steady and axisymmetric magnetosphere is derived, which now admits solutions with corrections. We derive the first-order non-linear corrections to the near-zone dipole magnetosphere in some popular non-linear eff…
In this paper we consider an axial torsion to build metric-compatible connections in conformal gravity, with gauge potentials; the geometric background is filled with Dirac spinors: scalar fields with suitable potentials are added eventually. The system of field equations is worked out to have torsional effects converted into spinorial self-interactions: the massless spinors display self-interactions of a specific form that gives them the features they have in the non-conformal theory but with the additional character of renormalizability, and the mechanisms of generation of mass and cosmologi…
I show that the main statement of [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 094802 (2010), arXiv:1005.2617] is wrong. Other inconsistences of this Letter are also discussed.
We analyze the equations of relativistic magnetized plasma dynamics in the limiting case that electromagnetic stress-energy is dominant over pressure and rest mass energy density. The naive formulation of these equations is shown to be not hyperbolic. Modifying the equations by terms that vanish for all physical solutions, we obtain a symmetric hyperbolic evolution system, which should exhibit improved numerical behavior.
We use Weyl transformations between the Minkowski spacetime and dS/AdS spacetime to show that one cannot well define the electrodynamics globally on the ordinary conformal compactification of the Minkowski spacetime (or dS/AdS spacetime), where the electromagnetic field has a sign factor (and thus is discountinuous) at the light cone. This problem is intuitively and clearly shown by the Penrose diagrams, from which one may find the remedy without too much difficulty. We use the Minkowski and dS spacetimes together to cover the compactified space, which in fact leads to the doubled conformal co…
Despite their potential importance for understanding astrophysical jets, physically realistic exact solutions for magnetospheres around Kerr black holes have not been found, even in the force-free approximation. Instead approximate analytical solutions such as the Blandford-Znajek (split-)monopole, as well as numerical solutions, have been constructed. In this paper we consider a new approach to the analysis and construction of such magnetospheres. We consider force-free electrodynamics close to the rotation axis of a magnetosphere surrounding a Kerr black hole assuming axisymmetry. This is th…
Recently the first real image of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy M87 successfully has been captured. To explain the behavior of both the observed powerful jets and the electromagnetic accretion disk the Blandford Znajek mechanism, by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, has been considered. To justify these phenomena we are seeking an exact solution for a perturbed Rissner-Nordstrom black hole surrounded by a force-free field electrodynamics accretion disk. Although a charged black hole is a toy model, by tending the charge to zero one can obtain the results for a …
Aristotelian electrodynamics (AE) describes the regime of a plasma with a very strong electric field that is not shorted out, with charge current determined completely by pair production and the balance of Lorentz 4-force against curvature radiation reaction. Here it is shown how the principal null directions and associated eigenvalues of the field tensor govern AE, and how force-free electrodynamics arises smoothly from AE when the eigenvalues (and therefore the electric field in some frame) vanish. A criterion for validity of AE is proposed in terms of a pair of "field curvature scalars" for…
In this work, expanded solutions of force-free magnetospheres on general Kerr black holes are derived through a radial distance expansion method. From the regular conditions both at the horizon and at spatial infinity, two previously known asymptotical solutions (one of them is actually an exact solution) are identified as the only solutions that satisfy the same conditions at the two boundaries. Taking them as initial conditions at the boundaries, expanded solutions up to the first few orders are derived by solving the stream equation order by order. It is shown that our extension of the exac…
We present GiRaFFE, the first open-source general relativistic force-free electrodynamics (GRFFE) code for dynamical, numerical-relativity generated spacetimes. GiRaFFE adopts the strategy pioneered by McKinney and modified by Paschalidis and Shapiro to convert a GR magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) code into a GRFFE code. In short, GiRaFFE exists as a modification of IllinoisGRMHD, a user-friendly, open-source, dynamical-spacetime GRMHD code. Both GiRaFFE and IllinoisGRMHD leverage the Einstein Toolkit's highly-scalable infrastructure to make possible large-scale simulations of magnetized plasmas i…
We consider the motion of charged point particles on Minkowski spacetime. The questions of whether the self-force is finite and whether mass renormalisation is necessary are discussed within three theories: In the standard Maxwell vacuum theory, in the non-linear Born-Infeld theory and in the higher-order Bopp-Podolsky theory. In a final section we comment on possible implications for the theory of the self-force in gravity.
In this paper we formulate the relationship between force-free electrodynamics and foliations. The background metric, is considered predetermined and electrically neutral, but otherwise arbitrary. As it turns out, solutions to force-free electrodynamics is intimately connected to the existence of foliations of a spacetime with prescribed properties. We also prove a local existence and uniqueness theorem and provide a recipe for constructing the unique solution/class of solutions when certain conditions are met. We clarify the theorem with examples. We are also able to also prove a singularity …
In [1, arXiv:1005.2617] effective field theory methods have been employed to compute the equations of motion of a spherically symmetric charged shell of radius R, taking into account the radiation reaction force exerted by the shell's own electromagnetic field up to O(R^2). The authors of Ref. [1] have stated that the known result for the self force of the shell as can be found from Eq. (16.28) of the textbook of Jackson [2] (see also Chap. 4 in the review of Pearle [3]) is incorrect, in that the term linear in R should be absent. We claim that this conclusion of Ref. [1] is incorrect, and tha…
We prove that the initial value problem for Force-free Electrodynamics in Euler variables is not well posed. We establish this result by showing that a well-posedness criterion provided by Kreiss fails to hold for this theory, and using a theorem provided by Strang. To show the nature of the problem we display a particular bounded (in Sobolev norms) sequence of initial data for the Force-free equations such that at any given time as close to zero as one wishes, the corresponding evolution sequence is not bounded. Thus, the Force-free evolution is non continuous in that norm with respect to the…
We introduce an effective field theory approach that describes the motion of finite size objects under the influence of electromagnetic fields. We prove that leading order effects due to the finite radius $R$ of a spherically symmetric charge is order $R^2$ rather than order $R$ in any physical model, as widely claimed in the literature. This scaling arises as a consequence of Poincaré and gauge symmetries, which can be shown to exclude linear corrections. We use the formalism to calculate the leading order finite size correction to the Abraham-Lorentz-Dirac force.
Motivated by possible applications within the framework of anti-de Sitter gravity/Conformal Field Theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence, charged black holes with AdS asymptotics, which are solutions to Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity in D dimensions, and whose electric field is described by a nonlinear electrodynamics (NED) are studied. For a topological static black hole ansatz, the field equations are exactly solved in terms of the electromagnetic stress tensor for an arbitrary NED Lagrangian, in any dimension D and for arbitrary positive values of Gauss-Bonnet coupling. In particular, this procedur…
Recently, a family of exact force-free electrodynamic (FFE) solutions was given by Brennan, Gralla and Jacobson, which generalizes earlier solutions by Michel, Menon and Dermer, and other authors. These solutions have been proposed as useful models for describing the outer magnetosphere of conducting stars. As with any exact analytical solution that aspires to describe actual physical systems, it is vitally important that the solution possess the necessary stability. In this paper, we show via fully nonlinear numerical simulations that the aforementioned FFE solutions, despite being highly spe…
A new approach to classical electrodynamics is presented, showing that it can be regarded as a particular case of the most general relativistic force field. In particular, at first it is shown that the structure of the Lorentz force comes directly from the structure of the three-force transformation law, and that E and B fields can be defined, which in general will depend not only on the space-time coordinate, but also on the velocity of the body acted upon. Then it is proved that these fields become independent from the body velocity if the force field propagates throughout space at the relat…
This paper describes the electrodynamics of a null and force-free field in completely geometric terms. As was previously established in \cite{Menon_FF20}, solutions to force-free electrodynamics are governed by the existence of certain special types of foliations of spacetime. Here the nature of the foliations in a coordinate-free formalism in the null case is prescribed. All of the general results are illustrated by constructing a null, force-free electrodynamic field in a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson- Walker (FLRW) spacetime.
The Scale Magnetic Effect (SME) is the generation of electric current due to conformal anomaly in external magnetic field in curved spacetime. The effect appears in a vacuum with electrically charged massless particles. Similarly to the Hall effect, the direction of the induced anomalous current is perpendicular to the direction of the external magnetic field $\bf B$ and to the gradient of the conformal factor $τ$, while the strength of the current is proportional to the beta function of the theory. In massive electrodynamics the SME remains valid, but the value of the induced current differs …
Force-Free Electrodynamics for black holes in Anti de Sitter is considered. We present new, energy extracting solutions of Force-Free Electrodynamics in Anti de Sitter - Near Horizon Extremal Kerr and Super-Entropic Near Horizon Extremal Kerr geometries. The relevant equations of motion are derived from an action for force-free plasma surrounding spinning black holes with generic asymptotics. We consider the energy flux of electrodynamic fields in rotating frames to argue that the correct measure for energy extraction is the energy flux measured by a rotating observer in the near horizon regio…
In this paper we obtain the expression for the self-force in the model with the Lagrangian containing additional terms, quadratic in Maxwell tensor derivatives (so-called Bopp-Podolsky electrodynamics). Features of this force are analyzed for various limiting cases. When a charged particle moves along straight line with a uniform acceleration, an explicit formula is found. In the framework of the considered model, an observable renormalized particle mass is shown to depend on its acceleration. This dependence allows, in principle, to extract experimentally a value of the particle bare mass.
We present a first-principles' prediction that two charged particles of masses M_1 and M_2 separated R apart in a dielectric vacuum act on each other always an attractive force in addition to other known forces in between. This component attractive force on one charge results as the Lorentz force in the radiation depolarization- and magnetic- fields of the other charge, being an attractive radiation force, and is in addition to the ordinary repulsive radiation force. The exact solution for the attractive radiation force is F_g=G' M_1M_2/R^2, an identical formula to Newton's law of gravitation.…
The Maxwell electromagnetic and the Lorentz type force equations are derived in the framework of the R. Feynman proper time paradigm and the related vacuum field theory approach. The electron inertia problem is analyzed within the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms and the related pressure-energy compensation principle. The modified Abraham- Lorentz damping radiation force is derived, the electromagnetic electron mass origin is argued.
Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) can be obtained by modifying the entropic formulation of gravity, this is achieved by considering the quantum statistical nature of the degrees of freedom on the holographic screen. Through this frame work, we find some constraints on a cosmological extension for MOND, with no additional auxiliary fields. The connections between MOND to conformal gravity and Rindler force gravity are examined. These two alternative gravity theories are subsequently considered as possible cosmological extensions of MOND.
A shared property of several of the known exact solutions to the equations of force-free electrodynamics is that their charge-current four-vector is \textit{null}. We examine the general properties of null-current solutions and then focus on the principal congruences of the Kerr black hole spacetime. We obtain a large class of exact solutions, which are in general time-dependent and non-axisymmetric. These solutions include waves that, surprisingly, propagate without scattering on the curvature of the black hole's background. They may be understood as generalizations to Robinson's solutions to…
We revisit Weyl's metrication (geometrization) of electromagnetism. We show that by making Weyl's proposed geometric connection be pure imaginary, not only are we able to metricate electromagnetism, an underlying local conformal invariance makes the geometry be strictly Riemannian and prevents observational gravity from being complex. Via torsion we achieve an analogous metrication for axial-vector fields. We generalize our procedure to Yang-Mills theories, and achieve a metrication of all the fundamental forces. Only in the gravity sector does our approach differ from the standard picture of …
The nonlinear Maxwell Lagrangian preserving both conformal and SO(2) duality-rotation invariance has been introduced very recently. Here, in the context of Einstein's theory of gravity minimally coupled with this nonlinear electrodynamics, we obtain a black hole solution which is the Reissner-Nordström black hole with one additional parameter that is coming from the nonlinear theory. We employ the causality and unitarity principles to identify an upper bound for this free parameter. The effects of this parameter on the physical properties of the black hole solution are investigated.
Bell-Szekeres (BS) solution for colliding electromagnetic waves in Einstein-Maxwell (EM) theory describes also colliding waves in nonlinear electrodynamics (NED) with an emergent cosmological constant. Our NED model covers the first leading orders to the well-known Heisenberg-Euler (HE) type in a particular gauge of pure magnetic field. Prior to the problem of collision we obtain dyonic solution for the considered NED theory in a conformally flat spacetime which has both electric and magnetic fields with constant invariants. Our sole finding is that null currents inevitably arise in the proces…
We investigate the dynamics of a charged particle being kicked off from its circular orbit around a regular black hole by an incoming massive particle in the presence of magnetic field. The resulting escape velocity, escape energy and the effective potential is analyzed. It is shown that the presence of even a very weak magnetic field helps the charged particles in escaping the gravitational field of the black hole. Moreover the effective force acting on the particle visibly reduces with distance. Thus particle near the black hole will experience higher effective force as compared to when it i…
In the classical vacuum Maxwell-Lorentz theory the self-force of a charged point particle is infinite. This makes classical mass renormalization necessary and, in the special relativistic domain, leads to the Abraham-Lorentz-Dirac equation of motion possessing unphysical run-away and pre-acceleration solutions. In this paper we investigate whether the higher-order modification of classical vacuum electrodynamics suggested by Bopp, Lande, Thomas and Podolsky in the 1940s, can provide a solution to this problem. Since the theory is linear, Green-function techniques enable one to write the field …
