scholarly journals On electron acceleration by mildly-relativistic shocks: PIC simulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 2103 (1) ◽  
pp. 012009
Author(s):  
V I Romansky ◽  
A M Bykov ◽  
S M Osipov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Electron Acceleration ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Relativistic Shocks ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Cell Modeling ◽  
Field Fluctuations ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract Radio observations revealed a presence of relativistic supernovae - a class of objects intermediate between the regular supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. The typical Lorentz-factors of plasma flows in relativistic radio-bright supernovae were estimated to be about 1.5. Mildly relativistic shocks in electron-ion plasmas are known to efficiently accelerate radio-emitting electrons if the shock is subluminous. The inclination angle of the velocity of subluminous shock to the ambient magnetic field should be below a critical angle which depends on the Mach number and the plasma magnetization parameter. In this paper we present particle-in-cell modeling of electron acceleration by mildly-relativistic collisionless shock of different obliquity in a plasma with ratio of the magnetic energy to the bulk kinetic energy σ ≈ 0.004 which is of interest for the relativistic supernovae modeling. It was shown earlier that a development of the ion scale Bell-type instability in electron-ion relativistic shock may have a strong influence on the electron injection and acceleration. In the time period of about 1500 ω p i − 1 (ωpi is the ion plasma frequency) after the shock initialization the magnetic field fluctuations generated by Bell’s instability may significantly decreases number of accelerated electrons even in a sub-luminous shock. We study here the evolution of the electron spectra of subluminous shocks of different obliquity. This is important to for modeling of synchrothron spectra from relativistic supernovae.

scholarly journals Multi-point observations of intermittency in the cusp regions

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Echim ◽  
H. Lamy ◽  
T. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Haar Wavelet ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Statistical Properties ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Haar Wavelet Transform ◽  
Intermittent Behavior ◽  
Field Fluctuations ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. In this paper we investigate the statistical properties of magnetic field fluctuations measured by the four Cluster spacecraft in the cusp and close to the interface with the magnetospheric lobes, magnetopause and magnetosheath. At lower altitudes along the outbound orbit of 26 February 2001, the magnetic field fluctuations recorded by all four spacecraft are random and their Probability Distribution Functions (PDFs) are Gaussian at all scales. The flatness parameter, F – related to the kurtosis of the time series, is equal to 3. At higher altitudes, in the cusp and its vicinity, closer to the interface with the magnetopause and magnetosheath, the PDFs from all Cluster satellites are non-Gaussian and show a clear intermittent behavior at scales smaller than τG≈ 61 s (or 170 km). The flatness parameter increases to values greater than 3 for scales smaller than τG. A Haar wavelet transform enables the identification of the "events" that produce sudden variations of the magnetic field and of the scales that have most of the power. The LIM parameter (i.e. normalized wavelet power) indicates that events for scales below 65 s are non-uniformly distributed throughout the cusp passage. PDFs, flatness and wavelet analysis show that at coarse-grained scales larger than τG the intermittency is absent in the cusp. Fluctuations of the magnetic energy observed during the same orbit in the magnetosheath show PDFs that tend toward a Gaussian at scales smaller than τG found in the cusp. The flatness analysis confirms the decreasing of τG from cusp to magnetosheath. Our analysis reveals the turbulent cusp as a transition region from a non-intermittent turbulent state inside the magnetosphere to an intermittent turbulent state in the magnetosheath that has statistical properties resembling the solar wind turbulence. The observed turbulent fluctuations in the cusp suggests a phenomenon of nonlinear interactions of plasma coherent structures as in contemporary models of space plasma turbulence.

scholarly journals Magnetic Field Amplification by a Plasma Cavitation Instability in Relativistic Shock Precursors

2022 ◽  
Vol 924 (1) ◽  
pp. L12
Author(s):  
J. R. Peterson ◽  
S. Glenzer ◽  
F. Fiuza
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Beam Current ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Field Amplification ◽  
Relativistic Shocks ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cavitation Instability ◽  
Shock Precursor

Abstract Plasma streaming instabilities play an important role in magnetic field amplification and particle acceleration in relativistic shocks and their environments. However, in the far shock precursor region where accelerated particles constitute a highly relativistic and dilute beam, streaming instabilities typically become inefficient and operate at very small scales when compared to the gyroradii of the beam particles. We report on a plasma cavitation instability that is driven by dilute relativistic beams and can increase both the magnetic field strength and coherence scale by orders of magnitude to reach near-equipartition values with the beam energy density. This instability grows after the development of the Weibel instability and is associated with the asymmetric response of background leptons and ions to the beam current. The resulting net inductive electric field drives a strong energy asymmetry between positively and negatively charged beam species. Large-scale particle-in-cell simulations are used to verify analytical predictions for the growth and saturation level of the instability and indicate that it is robust over a wide range of conditions, including those associated with pair-loaded plasmas. These results can have important implications for the magnetization and structure of shocks in gamma-ray bursts, and more generally for magnetic field amplification and asymmetric scattering of relativistic charged particles in plasma astrophysical environments.

Strong B-Field Fluctuations Caused by the Electromagnetic LHDI and their Impact on 3D Reconnection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Allmann-Rahn ◽  
Simon Lautenbach ◽  
Richard Sydora ◽  
Rainer Grauer
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Current Sheet ◽  
Moderate Level ◽  
Lower Hybrid ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Strong Current ◽  
Field Fluctuations ◽  
Drift Instability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Magnetic Field

<p>The electromagnetic branch of the lower-hybrid drift instability (LHDI) can lead to kinking of current sheets and fluctuations in the magnetic field and is present for example in Earth’s magnetosphere. Previous particle-in-cell studies suggested that the electromagnetic LHDI’s saturation is at a moderate level and that strong current sheet kinking is only caused by slower kink-type modes. Here, we present kinetic continuum simulations that show strong kinking and high saturation levels of the B-field fluctuations. Has the impact of the electromagnetic LHDI been underestimated? The capability of the LHDI to produce x-lines and turbulence in 3D reconnection is discussed at the example of ten-moment multi-fluid simulations.</p>

scholarly journals Constraining the magnetic field structure in collisionless relativistic shocks with a radio afterglow polarization upper limit in GW 170817

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (4) ◽  
pp. 5815-5825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramandeep Gill ◽  
Jonathan Granot
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Ambient Medium ◽  
Radial Profile ◽  
Skin Depth ◽  
Relativistic Electrons ◽  
Collisionless Shocks ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Relativistic Shocks

ABSTRACT Gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow arises from a relativistic shock driven into the ambient medium, which generates tangled magnetic fields and accelerates relativistic electrons that radiate the observed synchrotron emission. In relativistic collisionless shocks the post-shock magnetic field $\boldsymbol {B}$ is produced by the two-stream and/or Weibel instabilities on plasma skin-depth scales (c/ωp), and is oriented predominantly within the shock plane (B⊥; transverse to the shock normal, $\hat{\boldsymbol {n}}_{\rm {sh}}$), and is often approximated to be completely within it ($B_\parallel \equiv \hat{\boldsymbol {n}}_{\rm {sh}}\, \cdot \, \boldsymbol {B}=0$). Current 2D/3D particle-in-cell simulations are limited to short time-scales and box sizes ≲104(c/ωp) ≪ R/Γsh much smaller than the shocked region’s comoving width, and hence cannot probe the asymptotic downstream $\boldsymbol {B}$ structure. We constrain the latter using the linear polarization upper limit, $\vert \Pi \vert \lt 12{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, on the radio afterglow of GW $170817$ / GRB 170817A. Afterglow polarization depends on the jet’s angular structure, our viewing angle, and the $\boldsymbol {B}$ structure. In GW $170817$ / GRB 170817A the latter can be tightly constrained since the former two are well-constrained by its exquisite observations. We model $\boldsymbol {B}$ as an isotropic field in 3D that is stretched along $\hat{\boldsymbol {n}}_{\rm {sh}}$ by a factor ξ ≡ $B_\parallel $/B⊥, whose initial value ξf ≡ $B_\parallel,$f/B⊥, f describes the field that survives downstream on plasma scales ≪R/Γsh. We calculate Π(ξf) by integrating over the entire shocked volume for a Gaussian or power-law core-dominated structured jet, with a local Blandford-McKee self-similar radial profile (used for evolving ξ downstream). We find that independent of the exact jet structure, $\boldsymbol {B}$ has a finite, but initially sub-dominant, parallel component: 0.57 ≲ ξf ≲ 0.89, making it less anisotropic. While this motivates numerical studies of the asymptotic $\boldsymbol {B}$ structure in relativistic collisionless shocks, it may be consistent with turbulence amplified magnetic field.

scholarly journals On the linear and non-linear evolution of the relativistic MHD Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in a magnetically polarized fluid

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (3) ◽  
pp. 4183-4193
Author(s):  
Oscar M Pimentel ◽  
Fabio D Lora-Clavijo
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Linear Regime ◽  
Helmholtz Instability ◽  
Linear Evolution ◽  
Field Amplification ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Open Question ◽  
The Magnetic Field

ABSTRACT The origin and strength of the magnetic field in some systems like active galactic nuclei or gamma-ray bursts is still an open question in astrophysics. A possible mechanism to explain the magnetic field amplification is the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, since it is able to transform the kinetic energy in a shear flow into magnetic energy. Through this work, we investigate the linear and non-linear effects produced by the magnetic susceptibility in the development of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in a relativistic plasma. The system under study consists of a plane interface separating two uniform fluids that move with opposite velocities. The magnetic field in the system is parallel to the flows and the susceptibility is assumed to be homogeneous, constant in time, and equal in both fluids. In particular, we analyse the instability in three different cases, when the fluids are diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and when the susceptibility is zero. We compute the dispersion relation in the linear regime and found that the interface between diamagnetic fluids is more stable than between paramagnetic ones. We check the analytical results with numerical simulations, and explore the effect of the magnetic polarization in the non-linear regime. We find that the magnetic field is more amplified in paramagnetic fluids than in diamagnetic ones. Surprisingly, the effect of the susceptibility in the amplification is stronger when the magnetization parameter is smaller. The results of our work make this instability a more efficient and effective amplification mechanism of seed magnetic fields when considering the susceptibility of matter.

scholarly journals Double power-law spectra of energetic electrons in the Earth magnetotail

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Artemyev ◽  
M. Hoshino ◽  
V. N. Lutsenko ◽  
A. A. Petrukovich ◽  
S. Imada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Relativistic Effects ◽  
Electron Acceleration ◽  
Relativistic Electrons ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Field Fluctuations ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Theoretical Results

Abstract. In this paper, we consider electron acceleration in the vicinity of X-line and corresponding formation of energy spectra. We develop an analytical model including the effect of the electron trapping by electrostatic fields and surfing acceleration. Speiser, Fermi and betatron mechanisms of acceleration are also taken into account. Analytical estimates are verified by the numerical integration of electron trajectories. The surfing mechanism and adiabatic heating are responsible for the formation of the double power-law spectrum in agreement with the previous studies. The energy of the spectrum knee is about ~150 keV for typical conditions of the Earth magnetotail. We compare theoretical results with the spacecraft observations of electron double power-law spectra in the magnetotail and demonstrate that the theory is able to describe typical energy of the spectra knee. We also estimate the role of relativistic effects and magnetic field fluctuations on the electron acceleration: the acceleration is more stable for relativistic electrons, while fluctuations of the magnetic field cannot significantly decrease the gained energy for typical magnetospheric conditions.

scholarly journals Generation and decay of the magnetic field in collisionless shocks

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S324) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Mikhail Garasev ◽  
Evgeny Derishev
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Energy ◽  
Magnetic Field Generation ◽  
Collisionless Shocks ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Magnetic Field Energy ◽  
Relativistic Shocks ◽  
Continuous Injection ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractWe present the results of numerical particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of the magnetic field generation and decay in the upstream of collisionless shocks. We use the model, where the magnetic field in the incoming flow is generated by continuous injection of anisotropic electron-positron pairs. We found that the continuous injection of anisotropic plasma in the upstream of the shock-wave generates the large-scale, slowly decaying magnetic field that is later amplified during the passage of the shock front. In our simulations the magnetic field energy reached ~0.01 of the equipartition value, after that it slowly decays on the time scale proportional to the duration of the injection in the upstream. Thus, the magnetic field survives for a sufficiently long time, and supports efficient synchrotron radiation from relativistic shocks, e.g., in GRBs.

MAGNETIC FIELD AMPLIFICATION BY RELATIVISTIC SHOCKS IN AN INHOMOGENEOUS MEDIUM

2012 ◽  
Vol 08 ◽  
pp. 364-367
Author(s):  
YOSUKE MIZUNO ◽  
MARTIN POHL ◽  
JACEK NIEMIEC ◽  
BING ZHANG ◽  
KEN-ICHI NISHIKAWA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Inhomogeneous Medium ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Filamentary Structure ◽  
Field Amplification ◽  
Relativistic Shocks ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

We perform two-dimensional relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a mildly relativistic shock propagating through an inhomogeneous medium. We show that the postshock region becomes turbulent owing to preshock density inhomogeneity, and the magnetic field is strongly amplified due to the stretching and folding of field lines in the turbulent velocity field. The amplified magnetic field evolves into a filamentary structure in two-dimensional simulations. The magnetic energy spectrum is flatter than the Kolmogorov spectrum and indicates that the so-called small-scale dynamo is occurring in the postshock region. We also find that the amplitude of magnetic-field amplification depends on the direction of the mean preshock magnetic field.

CHOICE OF CONDITIONS FOR MHD SIMULATIONS ABOVE THE ACTIVE REGION, ALLOWING THE STUDY OF THE SOLAR FLARE MECHANISM

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 92-95
Author(s):  
A.I. Podgorny ◽  
◽  
I.M. Podgorny ◽  
A.V. Borisenko ◽  
N.S. Meshalkina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Active Region ◽  
Solar Flare ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Solar Radius ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Mhd Simulations ◽  
Flare Energy ◽  
Numerical Instabilities ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Primordial release of solar flare energy high in corona (at altitudes 1/40 - 1/20 of the solar radius) is explained by release of the magnetic energy of the current sheet. The observed manifestations of the flare are explained by the electrodynamical model of a solar flare proposed by I. M. Podgorny. To study the flare mechanism is necessary to perform MHD simulations above a real active region (AR). MHD simulation in the solar corona in the real scale of time can only be carried out thanks to parallel calculations using CUDA technology. Methods have been developed for stabilizing numerical instabilities that arise near the boundary of the computational domain. Methods are applicable for low viscosities in the main part of the domain, for which the flare energy is effectively accumulated near the singularities of the magnetic field. Singular lines of the magnetic field, near which the field can have a rather complex configuration, coincide or are located near the observed positions of the flare.

scholarly journals Simulation study of the plasma-brake effect

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1207-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Janhunen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Ionospheric Plasma ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Breaking Force ◽  
Field Orientation ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Leo Satellite ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. Plasma brake is a thin, negatively biased tether that has been proposed as an efficient concept for deorbiting satellites and debris objects from low Earth orbit. We simulate the interaction with the ionospheric plasma ram flow with the plasma-brake tether by a high-performance electrostatic particle in cell code to evaluate the thrust. The tether is assumed to be perpendicular to the flow. We perform runs for different tether voltage, magnetic-field orientation and plasma-ion mass. We show that a simple analytical thrust formula reproduces most of the simulation results well. The interaction with the tether and the plasma flow is laminar (i.e. smooth and not turbulent) when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the tether and the flow. If the magnetic field is parallel to the tether, the behaviour is unstable and thrust is reduced by a modest factor. The case in which the magnetic field is aligned with the flow can also be unstable, but does not result in notable thrust reduction. We also correct an error in an earlier reference. According to the simulations, the predicted thrust of the plasma brake is large enough to make the method promising for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite deorbiting. As a numerical example, we estimate that a 5 km long plasma-brake tether weighing 0.055 kg could produce 0.43 mN breaking force, which is enough to reduce the orbital altitude of a 260 kg object mass by 100 km over 1 year.

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