Persistence of Precursor Waves in Two-dimensional Relativistic Shocks

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/AA6D6F· OSTI ID:22663638

Iwamoto, Masanori; Amano, Takanobu; Hoshino, Masahiro ^[1]; Matsumoto, Yosuke ^[2]

---

1. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)
2. Department of Physics, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan)

We investigated the efficiency of coherent upstream large-amplitude electromagnetic wave emission via synchrotron maser instability in relativistic magnetized shocks using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We considered a purely perpendicular shock in an electron–positron plasma. The coherent wave emission efficiency was measured as a function of the magnetization parameter σ , which is defined as the ratio of the Poynting flux to the kinetic energy flux. The wave amplitude was systematically smaller than that observed in one-dimensional simulations. However, it continued to persist, even at a considerably low magnetization rate, where the Weibel instability dominated the shock transition. The emitted electromagnetic waves were sufficiently strong to disturb the upstream medium, and transverse filamentary density structures of substantial amplitude were produced. Based on this result, we discuss the possibility of the wakefield acceleration model to produce nonthermal electrons in a relativistic magnetized ion–electron shock.

• OSTI ID: 22663638
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 840, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ACCELERATION
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
DENSITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON-POSITRON INTERACTIONS
EMISSION
GAMMA RADIATION
INSTABILITY
IONS
MAGNETIZATION
MASERS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA
POSITRONS
PRECURSOR
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS