Cross-helicity conservation law Created 2026-09-28 Updated 2026-10-05
Let be the cross-helicity density. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation implies . Dotting the momentum equation with eliminates the Lorentz force density, since it is perpendicular to the magnetic field. The material derivative of is thereforeUsing for specific enthalpy and specific entropy , together with Gauss's law for magnetism, converts this toThe source vanishes when magnetic field lines lie in constant-specific entropy surfaces, in particular in a homentropic flow. Integrating over a volume conserves its total cross-helicity only if the boundary flux also vanishes. This local law is derived in Ogilvie's astrophysical fluid dynamics notes.
In a homentropic flow, the cross-helicity conservation law givesConsequently cross-helicity density is conserved along each trajectory exactly when the right-hand side vanishes. In a steady state, mass conservation gives , so the criterion becomesThe absence of an entropy source in a conservation law does not alone make its density an advected scalar: compression and transport along the magnetic field still change that density.
Let be the specific internal energy of a calorically perfect gas and define its specific gas constant , so . A reversible adiabatic change has no heat input and obeysUsing and givesIntegration yields , or , with fixed on that isentrope. Equivalently , so specifies entropy as well as composition. In a smooth nondissipative flow this means along each parcel. A single common throughout the fluid additionally requires a homentropic flow. No heat transfer alone does not forbid entropy production: different sides of an adiabatic shock generally have different values. Constant composition and heat capacities are needed for the fixed exponent used here.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 314 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Write for the material derivative and for the cross-helicity density, so . The ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation of ideal magnetohydrodynamics, with , givesThe dot product of the Euler momentum equation with the magnetic field has no Lorentz force contribution, because . Consequently,Here is the specific enthalpy, the temperature, and the specific entropy; is the internal energy per unit mass. The first law of thermodynamics in this convention is , so . Substitution, followed by , yields the cross-helicity conservation lawThe vector triple product identity puts this in the equivalent form
For the fixed volume, the divergence theorem gives the exact cross-helicity balanceThus cross-helicity is constant when the net source equals the outward flux. Simple sufficient hypotheses are throughout the volume and on its boundary. The first condition includes a homentropic flow; the second prevents both relevant boundary fluxes. Periodic boundary conditions, or sufficiently rapid decay at infinity, provide alternatives. These statements concern smooth ideal magnetohydrodynamics: material specific entropy conservation alone, , does not eliminate spatial specific entropy gradients along the magnetic field lines.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 314 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Use the Euler equations for an inviscid fluid with no magnetic or gravitational force. Let denote specific enthalpy. For a homentropic flow, , so the pressure acceleration is . The velocity identitytherefore givesTaking the curl, using that the curl of a gradient is zero and that differentiation commutes for smooth fields, proves barotropic vorticity transport:More generally the same proof works for any barotropic fluid, replacing by a pressure potential . Here “isentropic” must supply this barotropic closure, for example through one common specific entropy throughout the fluid. Merely imposing entropy advection equation allows spatial specific entropy gradients; in that case the vorticity equation contains the additional baroclinic vorticity generation term .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 314 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The calculation in part (a) leaves the cross-helicity conservation law sourceAt positive temperature, this vanishes exactly when the magnetic field is tangent to constant-specific entropy surfaces: . A homentropic flow is a sufficient special case; uniform entropy throughout space is not necessary. Mere advection of specific entropy, , constrains its variation along the velocity rather than along the magnetic field, so it does not by itself eliminate this source. To conserve total cross-helicity in a volume, the net boundary flux must also vanish.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 314 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For uniform specific entropy, the material conservation of cross-helicity density criterion isThus the requested condition isIn the steady state, mass conservation gives . An equivalent form, expressed entirely in the flow and thermodynamic variables, isIf “isentropic” means only constant specific entropy along individual trajectories, rather than a homentropic flow, the general criterion instead retains on the right-hand side of the material derivative equation. The distinction matters because a source-free cross-helicity conservation law need not make constant along each trajectory.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 314 4 a Solution 2026-09-28
Use the material forms of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation and momentum equation:The magnetic force is perpendicular to . For , the two equations therefore giveSince , this is the cross-helicity conservation lawwithFor a homentropic flow, , so the source vanishes.
Specific entropy Created 2026-10-05 Updated 2026-11-05
Specific entropy is entropy per unit mass. For a perfect gas with constant specific heat capacity at constant volume and specific-heat ratio , differences obeywhere is pressure and is mass density. Thus a homentropic flow has constant .