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Main Authors: Nekrasov, Nikita, Wiegmann, Paul
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.25053
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author Nekrasov, Nikita
Wiegmann, Paul
author_facet Nekrasov, Nikita
Wiegmann, Paul
contents We formulate the equations of fluid dynamics as an intersection-theoretic problem on an infinite-dimensional symplectic manifold naturally associated with spacetime. This perspective separates the structures determined by the equation of state and the spacetime geometry from the differential-topological data of spacetime. It leads to a geometric derivation of the covariant formulation of hydrodynamics due to Lichnerowicz and Carter, clarifies the role of the canonical velocity and hydrodynamic invariants, including the asymptotic Hopf invariant and the Ertel invariant, and yields a generalized Kelvin circulation theorem. We also explain the relation between the canonical velocity, the four-velocity, and other choices of hydrodynamic frame. In addition, we identify a five-dimensional geometric origin of the formalism underlying covariant hydrodynamics. The formalism extends naturally to fluids with additional degrees of freedom, including multicomponent fluids, charged fluids, and superfluids, and incorporates the chiral anomaly and Onsager quantization. It also suggests a possible bridge between hydrodynamics, Poisson sigma models, and topological field theories. We further argue that the same intersection-theoretic viewpoint applies to self-dual fields, including chiral bosons in 1+1 dimensions, tensor fields of the (2,0) theory in 1+5 dimensions, and the self-dual four-form field of type-IIB supergravity in 1+9 dimensions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_25053
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fluid dynamics as intersection problem
Nekrasov, Nikita
Wiegmann, Paul
High Energy Physics - Theory
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Mathematical Physics
Fluid Dynamics
We formulate the equations of fluid dynamics as an intersection-theoretic problem on an infinite-dimensional symplectic manifold naturally associated with spacetime. This perspective separates the structures determined by the equation of state and the spacetime geometry from the differential-topological data of spacetime. It leads to a geometric derivation of the covariant formulation of hydrodynamics due to Lichnerowicz and Carter, clarifies the role of the canonical velocity and hydrodynamic invariants, including the asymptotic Hopf invariant and the Ertel invariant, and yields a generalized Kelvin circulation theorem. We also explain the relation between the canonical velocity, the four-velocity, and other choices of hydrodynamic frame. In addition, we identify a five-dimensional geometric origin of the formalism underlying covariant hydrodynamics. The formalism extends naturally to fluids with additional degrees of freedom, including multicomponent fluids, charged fluids, and superfluids, and incorporates the chiral anomaly and Onsager quantization. It also suggests a possible bridge between hydrodynamics, Poisson sigma models, and topological field theories. We further argue that the same intersection-theoretic viewpoint applies to self-dual fields, including chiral bosons in 1+1 dimensions, tensor fields of the (2,0) theory in 1+5 dimensions, and the self-dual four-form field of type-IIB supergravity in 1+9 dimensions.
title Fluid dynamics as intersection problem
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Mathematical Physics
Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.25053