Distributional solutions to the Maxwell-Vlasov equations

Abstract

The distributional form of the Maxwell-Vlasov equations are formulated. Submanifold distributions are analysed and the general submanifold distributional solutions to the Vlasov equations are given. The properties required so that these solutions can be a distributional source to Maxwell's equations are analysed and it is shown that a sufficient condition is that spacetime be globally hyperbolic. The cold fluid, multicurrent and water bag models of charge are shown to be particular cases of the distributional Maxwell-Vlasov system.