A coherent, nonlinear TEM wave at a pulsar wind termination shock

Olaf Skjæraasen, Andrew Melatos, Anatoly Spitkovsky

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We study the coupling between a relavistic pair plasma and a nonlinear, superluminal, transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave, both in the free-streaming case and in the case where the plasma encounters a shock produced by a confining medium. For the free-streaming case, we verify an analytically derived dispersion relation. In the shocked case, we observe that the wave induces coherent oscillations of the plasma internally in the shock and modifies the shock structure, until it decays after some 102 - 103 skin depths, causing anisotropic heating of the plasma. The prime application of our work is the termination shock of a pulsar wind.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAstrophysical Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation
Pages320-323
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 22 2005
EventAstrophysical Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation - Torun, Poland
Duration: Jun 20 2005Jun 24 2005

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume801
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

OtherAstrophysical Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation
Country/TerritoryPoland
CityTorun
Period6/20/056/24/05

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

  • Nonlinear electromagnetic waves
  • Pulsar winds
  • Relativistic shocks

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