Metric structures of inviscid flows

Abstract

An intrinsic metric tensor, a flat connexion and the corresponding distance-like function are constructed in the configuration space formed by velocity field {\bf and} the thermodynamic variables of an inviscid fluid. The kinetic-energy norm is obtained as a limiting case; all physical quantities are Galilean invariant. Explicit expressions are given for the case of an ideal gas. The flat connexion is {\bf not} metric-compatible. These results are achieved by applying the formalism of statistical manifolds \cite{amari,otros} to the statistical mechanics of a moving fluid.