Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks

Details Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks

Aug 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001icrc....6.2005b&link_type=abstract

Proceedings of the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference. 07-15 August, 2001. Hamburg, Germany. Under the auspices of the Int

Physics

Scientific paper

Relativistic shocks find natural application in astrophysics in active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts. While modest to moderate Lorentz factors are associated with the former environment, it is probable that extremely high values of 100-1000 are attained in bursts. Studies of diffusive acceleration at such relativistic shocks are more sparse than those pertaining to their non-relativistic counterparts. This is in part due to the inapplicability of the diffusion approximation to relativistic shocks, where particle isotropy is never realized. This paper presents results of acceleration properties of such relativistic shocks over a wide range of Lorentz factors of the upstream flow. Our tool is a wellknown and successful Monte Carlo simulation that possesses versatility to probe a variety of scattering properties, and determine acceleration spectra, anisotropies, spatial gradients and acceleration times. Here we present results from our simulation of quasi-parallel shocks that relate to these various quantities, demonstrating close agreement with semianalytic convection-diffusion equation results in the limit of pitch angle diffusion. We also explore the spectral flattening that arises when scattering angles are finite. Furthermore, it is determined that acceleration times can never become arbitrarily short in ultrarelativistic shocks, but are dominated by diffusion in the downstream region and couple to the particle's gyroperiod.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks 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 Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Particle acceleration at relativistic shocks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-794273