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A NUMERICAL STUDY OF DIFFUSIVE COSMIC-RAY TRANSPORT WITH ADIABATIC FOCUSING

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
 [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Waikato, P. B. 3105, Hamilton (New Zealand)
  2. Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 (Australia)

Focused particle transport in a nonuniform large-scale magnetic field is investigated numerically in the case of isotropic pitch-angle scattering. Evolving particle density profiles and distribution moments are computed from solutions of a system of stochastic differential equations, equivalent to the original Fokker-Planck equation for the particle distribution. Conflicting analytical predictions for the transport coefficients in the diffusion limit, independently calculated by Beeck and Wibberenz and Shalchi, are compared with the numerical results. The reasons for the discrepancies among the analytical and numerical treatments, as well as the general limitations of the diffusion model, are discussed. The telegraph equation, derived in a higher-order expansion of the particle distribution function, is shown to describe the particle transport much more accurately than the diffusion model, especially ahead of a moving density pulse.

OSTI ID:
22167648
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 765; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English