On the dynamical reduction of the Vlasov equation

Abstract

The elimination of a fast time scale from the Vlasov equation by Lie-transform methods is an important step in deriving a reduced Vlasov equation such as the drift-kinetic Vlasov equation or the gyrokinetic Vlasov equation. It is shown here that this dynamical reduction also leads to the introduction of polarization and magnetization effects in the reduced Maxwell equations, which ensure that the reduced Vlasov-Maxwell equations possess an exact energy-momentum conservation law.