Nonlinear electromagnetic wave propagation in the termination shock of a pulsar wind

O. Skjæraasen, A. Melatos, Anatoly Spitkovsky

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

Abstract

We employ particle-in-cell simulations to study the coupling between a relativistically streaming, electron-positron plasma and a nonlinear, superluminal, circularly polarized, transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave. For an unshocked wave, we verify the analytic dispersion relation for nonlinear TEM waves. For a shocked plasma wave, we find that the wave fields modulate the shock internally, increasing its characteristic temperature, and accelerating the pairs anisotropically. The prime application of the results is the termination shock of the Crab pulsar wind.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHigh Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy - 2nd International Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Pages382-387
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
EventInternational Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy - Heidelberg, Germany
Duration: Jul 26 2004Jul 30 2004

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume745
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

OtherInternational Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityHeidelberg
Period7/26/047/30/04

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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