Magnetic field generation in curved spacetimes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new general relativistic mechanism for generating seed magnetic fields in hot plasmas due to spacetime curvature and plasma thermodynamics, with potential astrophysical implications.

Contribution

It presents a novel curvature-driven magnetogenesis mechanism using covariant magnetofluid formalism, applicable to hot plasmas in curved spacetimes like near black holes.

Findings

Derived a new gravity-induced seed magnetic field mechanism

Applied the model to plasma around Schwarzschild black holes

Suggested astrophysical scenarios where this mechanism is relevant

Abstract

Using the generally covariant magnetofluid formalism for a hot plasma, a new curvature (of space time) driven mechanism for generating seed vorticity/magnetic field is presented. The "battery" owes its origin to the interaction between gravity (epitomized in the spatial variation of the metric tensor) and the inhomogeneous plasma thermodynamics. The general relativistic drive for the seed field is evaluated in a simplified model of a hot plasma accreting around a Schwarzschild black hole. Some astrophysical applications are suggested.