New variational principle for the Vlasov-Maxwell equations.
A new Eulerian variational principle is presented for the Vlasov-Maxwell equations. This principle uses constrained variations for the Vlasov distribution in eight-dimensional extended phase space. The standard energy-momentum conservation law is then derived explicitly by the Noether method. This new variational principle can be applied to various reduced Vlasov-Maxwell equations in which fast time scales have been asymptotically eliminated (e.g., low-frequency gyrokinetic theory).
Brizard
A J
AJ
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.