A variational approach to relativistic superfluid vortex elasticity

Abstract

It is well known that a superfluid rotates by forming an array of quantized vortices. A relativistic formulation for superfluid vortex dynamics is required for a range of problems in astrophysics and cosmology, from neutron star interiors and radio pulsar glitches to possible dark matter condensates on galactic scales. This paper develops a formalism for such systems, extending the well-established variational approach to relativistic fluids to account for the presence of a collection of quantized vortices. The model is firmly anchored in the geometry of the problem (drawing on aspects from basic string dynamics) and accounts for elastic aspects associated with a vortex array, providing a precise foundation for applications which have so far been based on somewhat ad hoc phenomenology.