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For smooth ideal magnetohydrodynamics of constant mass density, define $I_{\pm }={\int }_V|{\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }{|}^{2}dV$. Taking the dot product of the Elsässer variable equation with $2{\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }$ givesTherefore each integral is constant when its outward boundary flux vanishes, for example when both velocity and magnetic field are tangent to the fixed boundary, or for periodic boundary conditions. The kinetic energy plus magnetic energy is $\rho (I_{+}+I_{-})/4$, while the cross-helicity is $\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }(I_{+}-I_{-})/4$.

For an incompressible flow with constant mass density, the Elsässer variables are ${\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }=\mathbf{u}\pm {\mathbf{v}}_a$, where ${\mathbf{v}}_a$ is the Alfvén velocity. Adding and subtracting the Euler momentum equation and ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation yields ${\partial }_t{\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }+({\mathbf{z}}^{\mp }\cdot \nabla ){\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }=-\nabla \psi$, with $\psi =p/\rho +\Phi +|{\mathbf{v}}_a{|}^2/2$ and $\nabla \cdot {\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }=0$. Thus each field is transported by the other, a useful way to expose interactions of oppositely directed Alfvén waves.

Let the constant mass density be $\rho >0$ and put ${\mathbf{v}}_a=\mathbf{B}/\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }$, the Alfvén velocity. Since both the velocity and the magnetic field have zero divergence, the magnetic tension and magnetic pressure decomposition of the Lorentz force givesThe Newtonian gravitational potential $\Phi$ remains in $\psi$; uniform mass density does not justify dropping a prescribed gravitational acceleration. Adding and subtracting the two equations proves the Elsässer variable equationsHere ${\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }=\mathbf{u}\pm {\mathbf{v}}_a$; each Elsässer variable is transported by the other.

Define $I_{\pm }={\int }_V|{\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }{|}^{2}dV$. Taking the dot product with $2{\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }$ gives the Elsässer energy invariant balanceThe divergence theorem proves $d{I}_{\pm }/dt=0$ whenever the net boundary flux vanishes. In particular, $\mathbf{u}\cdot \mathbf{n}=\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{n}=0$ makes ${\mathbf{z}}^{\pm }\cdot \mathbf{n}=0$, so both fluxes vanish pointwise. Periodic boundary conditions or decay at infinity are also sufficient. These boundary conditions matter: fixed volume alone gives no conservation.

The kinetic energy plus magnetic energy isExpanding $|\mathbf{u}\pm {\mathbf{v}}_a{|}^2$ and using the cross-helicity definition yieldsBoth energy and cross-helicity therefore follow from the two Elsässer energy invariants. The quantity $E$ here is exactly the requested kinetic energy plus magnetic energy, without an additional gravitational term.