Lorentz invariant "potential magnetic field" and magnetic flux conservation in an ideal relativistic plasma

Abstract

Lorentz invariant scalar functions of the magnetic field are defined in an ideal relativistic plasma. These invariants are advected by the plasma fluid motion and play the role of the {\it potential magnetic field} introduced by R. Hide in Ann. Geophys. 1, 59 (1983) on the line of Ertel's theorem. From these invariants we recover the Cauchy conditions for the magnetic field components in the Eulerian-Lagrangian variable mapping. In addition the adopted procedure allows us to formulate Alfv\`en theorem for the conservation of the magnetic flux through a surface comoving with the plasma in a Lorentz invariant form.