Magnetic field evolution in relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks

Uri Keshet; Boaz Katz; Anatoly Spitkovsky; Eli Waxman

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L127

Magnetic field evolution in relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks

Uri Keshet, Boaz Katz, Anatoly Spitkovsky, Eli Waxman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks using unprecedentedly large particle-in-cell simulations of two-dimensional pair plasma. High-energy particles accelerated by the shock are found to drive magnetic field evolution on a timescale ≳10⁴ plasma times. Progressively stronger magnetic fields are generated on larger scales in a growing region around the shock. Shock-generated magnetic fields and accelerated particles carry ≳1% and ≳10% of the downstream energy flux, respectively. Our results suggest limits on the magnetization of relativistic astrophysical flows.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L127-L130
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	693
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L127
State	Published - 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Acceleration of particles
Gamma rays: bursts
Magnetic fields
Shock waves

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10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L127

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title = "Magnetic field evolution in relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks",

abstract = "We study relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks using unprecedentedly large particle-in-cell simulations of two-dimensional pair plasma. High-energy particles accelerated by the shock are found to drive magnetic field evolution on a timescale ≳104 plasma times. Progressively stronger magnetic fields are generated on larger scales in a growing region around the shock. Shock-generated magnetic fields and accelerated particles carry ≳1% and ≳10% of the downstream energy flux, respectively. Our results suggest limits on the magnetization of relativistic astrophysical flows.",

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T1 - Magnetic field evolution in relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks

AU - Keshet, Uri

AU - Katz, Boaz

AU - Spitkovsky, Anatoly

AU - Waxman, Eli

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - We study relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks using unprecedentedly large particle-in-cell simulations of two-dimensional pair plasma. High-energy particles accelerated by the shock are found to drive magnetic field evolution on a timescale ≳104 plasma times. Progressively stronger magnetic fields are generated on larger scales in a growing region around the shock. Shock-generated magnetic fields and accelerated particles carry ≳1% and ≳10% of the downstream energy flux, respectively. Our results suggest limits on the magnetization of relativistic astrophysical flows.

AB - We study relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks using unprecedentedly large particle-in-cell simulations of two-dimensional pair plasma. High-energy particles accelerated by the shock are found to drive magnetic field evolution on a timescale ≳104 plasma times. Progressively stronger magnetic fields are generated on larger scales in a growing region around the shock. Shock-generated magnetic fields and accelerated particles carry ≳1% and ≳10% of the downstream energy flux, respectively. Our results suggest limits on the magnetization of relativistic astrophysical flows.

KW - Acceleration of particles

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

KW - Magnetic fields

KW - Shock waves

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DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L127

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SN - 0004-637X

VL - 693

SP - L127-L130

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Magnetic field evolution in relativistic unmagnetized collisionless shocks

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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