Post-Newtonian Magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract

In this paper, we derive the post-Newtonian equations of the ideal magnetohydrodynamics. To do so, we use the modern approach to post-Newtonian theory, where the harmonic gauge is used instead of the standard post-Newtonian gauge, and find the post-Newtonian metric in the presence of the electromagnetic fields. We show that although the electric field does not contribute in the metric and curvature of the spacetime, the magnetic field appears in the time–time component of the metric. The appearance of the magnetic field, in principle, leads to new relativistic contributions to the magnetohydrodynamic governing equations. Therefore, using the post-Newtonian metric, we find the relativistic corrections to the magnetohydrodynamic equations up to the first post-Newtonian order. In addition, as usage of this derivation, we obtain a complete set of equations by which the behavior of a self-gravitating plasma can be determined in post-Newtonian gravity.