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Momentum anisotropy from Resistive Magnetohydrodynamics

High Energy Physics - Theory 2026-07-24 v1 Nuclear Theory Plasma Physics

Abstract

We derive relativistic resistive magnetohydrodynamics framework for a two-component ultrarelativistic plasma of massless, oppositely charged particles directly from the Boltzmann-Vlasov equation using the 14-moment approximation. The resulting second-order equations couple the net-charge diffusion current to the shear-stress tensor through the electric field, with all transport coefficients given in closed microscopic form. In the homogeneous limit, the charge-current dynamics is well described by relaxation-type Ohm's law for moderate field strengths, while large viscosity drives the system into an underdamped oscillatory regime absent from the standard Israel-Stewart formulation. Most strikingly, a purely electric field generates sizable momentum anisotropy even without any underlying flow gradient. Under Bjorken expansion this field-induced anisotropy persists but becomes subleading to the hydrodynamic expansion source.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.21879,
  title  = {Momentum anisotropy from Resistive Magnetohydrodynamics},
  author = {Khwahish Kushwah and Gabriel S. Denicol},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.21879},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

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