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1. The synchrotron maser emission from relativistic magnetized shocks: dependence on the pre-shock temperature

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa2612  

   Babul, Aliya-Nur; Sironi, Lorenzo (October 2020, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   null (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT Electromagnetic precursor waves generated by the synchrotron maser instability at relativistic magnetized shocks have been recently invoked to explain the coherent radio emission of fast radio bursts. By means of 2D particle-in-cell simulations, we explore the properties of the precursor waves in relativistic electron–positron perpendicular shocks as a function of the pre-shock magnetization σ ≳ 1 (i.e. the ratio of incoming Poynting flux to particle energy flux) and thermal spread Δγ ≡ kT/mc2 = 10−5−10−1. We measure the fraction fξ of total incoming energy that is converted into precursor waves, as computed in the post-shock frame. At fixed magnetization, we find that fξ is nearly independent of temperature as long as Δγ ≲ 10−1.5 (with only a modest decrease of a factor of 3 from Δγ = 10−5 to Δγ = 10−1.5), but it drops by nearly two orders of magnitude for Δγ ≳ 10−1. At fixed temperature, the scaling with magnetization $$f_\xi \sim 10^{-3}\, \sigma ^{-1}$$ is consistent with our earlier 1D results. For our reference σ = 1, the power spectrum of precursor waves is relatively broad (fractional width ∼1 − 3) for cold temperatures, whereas it shows pronounced line-like features with fractional width ∼0.2 for 10−3 ≲ Δγ ≲ 10−1.5. For σ ≳ 1, the precursor waves are beamed within an angle ≃σ−1/2 from the shock normal (as measured in the post-shock frame), as required so they can outrun the shock. Our results can provide physically grounded inputs for FRB emission models based on maser emission from relativistic shocks. 

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2. Superluminal Wave Activation at Relativistic Magnetized Shocks

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae4510  

   Mahlmann, Jens F; Eskildsen, Logan; Vanthieghem, Arno; Dai, Dawei; Sironi, Lorenzo (February 2026, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extremely energetic radio transients, where some are generated in magnetar magnetospheres and winds. Despite a growing number of observations, their emission mechanisms remain elusive. It has recently been proposed that Alfvénic perturbations can convert into superluminalO-modes at magnetized shocks and propagate downstream as a radio signal. We validate this superluminal wave activation mechanism using pair-plasma theory and particle-in-cell simulations. Theory predicts two different downstream modes: nonpropagating Alfvénic perturbations and propagating superluminalO-modes. Superluminal wave activation occurs if the frequency of upstream perturbations in the shock frame exceeds the downstream plasma frequency. 1D particle-in-cell simulations confirm wavenumber and frequency jumps across the shock for upstream perturbations with frequencies well above the plasma frequency. Our simulations model both monochromatic upstream waves and broadband spectra with the downstream plasma frequency acting like a high-pass filter for superluminalO-modes. We discuss implications for FRB generation in relativistic magnetized winds. 

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3. Quasi-steady emission from repeating fast radio bursts can be explained by magnetar wind nebulae

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf2175  

   Bhattacharya, Mukul; Murase, Kohta; Kashiyama, Kazumi (December 2025, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   ABSTRACT Among more than 1000 known fast radio bursts (FRBs), only five sources – FRBs 20121102A, 20190520B, 20201124A, 20240114A, and 20190417A – have confirmed associations with persistent radio sources. The observed quasi-steady emission is consistent with synchrotron radiation from a composite of magnetar wind nebula and supernova (SN) ejecta. Using a phenomenological model that incorporates simplified treatments of the nebular dynamics and particle acceleration, we compute the synchrotron flux by solving kinetic equations for energized electrons, accounting for electromagnetic cascades of electron–positron pairs interacting with nebular photons. Within the framework of our model, the rotation-powered scenario requires a young neutron star (NS) with age $$t_{\rm age}\approx 20\, {\rm yr}$$, dipolar magnetic field $$B_{\rm dip}\approx (3{\!-\!}5)\times 10^{12}\, {\rm G}$$ and initial spin period $$P_i\approx 1.5{\!-\!}3\, {\rm ms}$$ in an ultra-stripped SN progenitor to account for emissions from FRBs 20121102A and 20190520B. In contrast, FRB 20201124A requires $$t_{\rm age}\approx 10\, {\rm yr}$$, $$B_{\rm dip}\approx 5.5\times 10^{13}\, {\rm G}$$, and $$P_i\approx 10\, {\rm ms}$$ in a conventional core-collapse SN progenitor. For the magnetar-flare-powered model, NS aged $$t_{\rm age} \approx 25\, /40\, {\rm yr}$$ in a USSN progenitor and $$t_{\rm age} \approx 12.5\, {\rm yr}$$ in a CCSN progenitor explains the observed flux for FRB 20121102A/20190520B and FRB 20201124A, respectively. Finally, we estimate a minimum NS age $$t_{\rm age,min} \sim 1{\!-\!}3\, {\rm yr}$$ based on the near-source plasma contribution to observed DM, and $$t_{\rm age,min} \sim 6.5{\!-\!}10\, {\rm yr}$$ from the absence of radio signal attenuation. 

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4. Electrostatic Waves and Electron Holes in Simulations of Low-Mach Quasi-perpendicular Shocks

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6b0c  

   Bohdan, Artem; Tran, Aaron; Sironi, Lorenzo; Wilson, Lynn B (October 2024, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Collisionless low-Mach-number shocks are abundant in astrophysical and space plasma environments, exhibiting complex wave activity and wave–particle interactions. In this paper, we present 2D Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations of quasi-perpendicular nonrelativistic (v_sh≈ (5500–22000) km s⁻¹) low-Mach-number shocks, with a specific focus on studying electrostatic waves in the shock ramp and precursor regions. In these shocks, an ion-scale oblique whistler wave creates a configuration with two hot counterstreaming electron beams, which drive unstable electron acoustic waves (EAWs) that can turn into electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) at the late stage of their evolution. By conducting simulations with periodic boundaries, we show that the EAW properties agree with linear dispersion analysis. The characteristics of ESWs in shock simulations, including their wavelength and amplitude, depend on the shock velocity. When extrapolated to shocks with realistic velocities (v_sh≈ 300 km s⁻¹), the ESW wavelength is reduced to one-tenth of the electron skin depth and the ESW amplitude is anticipated to surpass that of the quasi-static electric field by more than a factor of 100. These theoretical predictions may explain a discrepancy, between PIC and satellite measurements, in the relative amplitude of high- and low-frequency electric field fluctuations. 

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5. Microphysics of Particle Reflection in Weibel-mediated Shocks

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad527d  

   Parsons, Jasmine; Spitkovsky, Anatoly; Vanthieghem, Arno (August 2024, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations have shown that relativistic collisionless shocks mediated by the Weibel instability accelerate ∼1% of incoming particles, while the majority are transmitted through the shock and become thermalized. The microphysical processes that determine whether an incoming particle will be transmitted or reflected are poorly understood. We study the microphysics of particle reflection in Weibel-mediated shocks by tracking a shell of test particles in a PIC simulation of a shock in pair plasma. We find that electrons in positron-dominated filaments and positrons in electron-dominated filaments efficiently reflect off of strong magnetic structures at the shock. To participate in diffusive shock acceleration, however, these reflected particles headed toward the upstream must avoid getting advected downstream. This is enabled by incoming filaments, which trap reflected particles carrying the same sign of current as the filaments. The final injection efficiency on the order of ∼1% thus results from the effectiveness of the initial reflection at the shock and the reflected particles’ probability of survival in the upstream postreflection. We develop a model that predicts the fraction of high-energy particles as a function of the properties of Weibel filamentation. 

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