Differential-geometrical approach to the dynamics of dissipationless incompressible Hall magnetohydrodynamics I: Lagrangian mechanics on semidirect product of two volume preserving diffeomorphisms and conservation laws

Abstract: The dynamics of a dissipationless incompressible Hall magnetohydrodynamic (HMHD) medium is formulated using Lagrangian mechanics on a semidirect product of two volume preserving diffeomorphism groups. In the case of $\mathbb{T}^3$ or $E^3$, the generalized Elsasser variables introduced by Galtier (S. Galtier 2006 J. Plasma Phys. 72 721-769) yield remarkably simple expressions of basic formulas and equations such as the structure constants of Lie algebra, the equation of motion, and the conservation laws. Four constants of motion, where three of the four are independent, are naturally derived from the generalized Elsasser variables representation of the equation of motion for the HMHD system: total plasma energy, magnetic helicity, hybrid helicity, and the modified cross helicity.