Magnetowave Induced Plasma Wakefield Acceleration for Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays
Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic particles to ultrahigh energies. Here we present simulation results that clearly demonstrate the viability of this mechanism for the first time. We invoke the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The plasma wakefield obtained in the simulations compares favorably with our newly developed relativistic theory of the MPWA. We show that, under appropriate conditions, the plasma wakefield maintains very high coherence and can sustain high-gradient acceleration over hundreds of plasma skin depths. Invoking active galactic nuclei as the site, we show that MPWA production of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays beyond ZeV (10{sup 21} eV) is possible.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 993420
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-13576; ISSN 1079-7114; arXiv:0709.1177; TRN: US201023%%333
- Journal Information:
- Phys.Rev.Lett.102:111101,2009, Vol. 102, Issue 11; ISSN 0031-9007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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