Relativistic Bulk Rheology: From Neutron Star Mergers to Viscous Cosmology

Abstract: We develop the first causal and stable theory of a bulk-viscous relativistic pseudoplastic (or dilatant) fluid. This new formalism brings to light the rheological properties of several relativistic physical systems. Neutron star collisions can behave as a relativistic pseudoplastic material with viscous properties dictated by the non-conservation of lepton currents due to weak decay. Two-temperature relativistic plasmas, such as those surrounding supermassive galactic black holes, are predominantly pseudoplastic. Our framework can also be employed to construct novel viscous models for the evolution of the Universe with pseudoplastic or dilatant features.