Perturbative variational formulation of the Vlasov-Maxwell equations

Abstract: The perturbative variational formulation of the Vlasov-Maxwell equations is presented up to third order in the perturbation analysis. From the second and third-order Lagrangian densities, respectively, the first-order and second-order Vlasov-Maxwell equations are expressed in gauge-invariant and gauge-independent forms. Upon deriving the reduced second-order Vlasov-Maxwell Lagrangian for the linear nonadiabatic gyrokinetic Vlasov-Maxwell equations, the reduced Lagrangian densities for the linear drift-wave equation and the linear hybrid kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations are derived, with their associated wave-action conservation laws obtained by Noether method. The exact wave-action conservation law for the linear hybrid kinetic-MHD equations is written explicitly. A new form of the third-order Vlasov-Maxwell Lagrangian is derived in which ponderomotive effects play a crucial role.