Macroscopic approximation to relativistic kinetic theory from a nonlinear closure

Abstract

We use a macroscopic description of a system of relativistic particles based on adding a nonequilibrium tensor to the usual hydrodynamic variables. The nonequilibrium tensor is linked to relativistic kinetic theory through a nonlinear closure suggested by the entropy production principle; the evolution equation is obtained by the method of moments and together with energy-momentum conservation closes the system. Transport coefficients are chosen to reproduce second-order fluid dynamics if gradients are small. We compare the resulting formalism to exact solutions of Boltzmann’s equation in 0 þ 1 dimensions and show that it tracks kinetic theory better than second-order fluid dynamics.