A causality analysis of the linearized relativistic Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract

It is shown by means of a simple analysis that the linearized system of transport equations for a relativistic, single component ideal gas at rest obeys the antecedence principle, which is often referred to as causality principle. This task is accomplished by examining the roots of the dispersion relation for such a system. This result is important for recent experiments performed in relativistic heavy ion colliders, since it suggests that the Israel-Stewart like formalisms may be unnecessary in order to describe relativistic fluids.