The effect of parallel electric field in shock waves on the acceleration of relativistic ions, electrons, and positrons
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602 (Japan)
- National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki 509-5292 (Japan)
- Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)
The effect of an electric field E{sub ||} parallel to the magnetic field B on particle acceleration in shock waves is studied. With test particle calculations, for which the electromagnetic fields of shock waves are obtained from one-dimensional, fully kinetic, electromagnetic, particle simulations, the motions of relativistic ions, electrons, and positrons are analyzed. In these simulations, the shock speed v{sub sh} is taken to be close to c cos {theta}, where {theta} is the angle between the external magnetic field and wave normal, and thus strong particle acceleration takes place. Test particle motions calculated in two different methods are compared: In the first method the total electric field E is used in the equation of motion, while in the second method E{sub ||} is omitted. The comparison confirms that in the acceleration of relativistic ions E{sub ||} is unimportant for high-energy particles. For the acceleration of electrons and positrons, however, E{sub ||} is essential.
- OSTI ID:
- 21274250
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 16; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Positron acceleration to ultrarelativistic energies by an oblique magnetosonic shock wave in an electron-positron-ion plasma
Numerical studies on ultrarelativistic ion motions in an oblique magnetosonic shock wave
Persistent acceleration of positrons in a nonstationary shock wave
Journal Article
·
Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2004
· Physics of Plasmas
·
OSTI ID:20657956
Numerical studies on ultrarelativistic ion motions in an oblique magnetosonic shock wave
Journal Article
·
Mon Dec 14 23:00:00 EST 2009
· Physics of Plasmas
·
OSTI ID:21371232
Persistent acceleration of positrons in a nonstationary shock wave
Journal Article
·
Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005
· Physics of Plasmas
·
OSTI ID:20764458