Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission

Details Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission

2004-10-07

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0410193v1

AIP Conf.Proc. 745 (2005) 534-539

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

6 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Proceeding of International Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (July 26-30, 2004)

Scientific paper

10.1063/1.1878458

Shock acceleration is an ubiquitous phenomenon in astrophysical plasmas. Plasma waves and their associated instabilities (e.g.,Buneman, Weibel and other two-stream instabilities) created in collisionless shocks are responsible for particle (electron, positron, and ion) acceleration. Using a 3-D relativistic electromagnetic particle (REMP) code, we have investigated particle acceleration associated with a relativistic jet front propagating into an ambient plasma with and without initial magnetic fields. Simulations show that the Weibel instability created in the collisionless shock front accelerates jet and ambient particles both perpendicular and parallel to the jet propagation direction. The non-linear fluctuation amplitudes of densities, currents, electric, and magnetic fields in the electron-positron shock are larger than those found in the electron-ion shock at the same simulation time. This comes from the fact that both electrons and positrons contribute to generation of the Weibel instability. The simulation results show that the Weibel instability is responsible for generating and amplifying nonuniform, small-scale (mainly transverse) magnetic fields which contribute to the electron's (positron's) transverse deflection behind the jet head. This small scale magnetic field structure is appropriate to the generation of ``jitter'' radiation from deflected electrons (positrons) as opposed to synchrotron radiation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Relativistic Shocks: Particle Acceleration and Magnetic Field Generation, and Emission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-215876