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Title: Turbulence and Particle Acceleration in a Relativistic Plasma
Abstract

In a collisionless plasma, the energy distribution function of plasma particles can be strongly affected by turbulence. In particular, it can develop a nonthermal power-law tail at high energies. We argue that turbulence with initially relativistically strong magnetic perturbations (magnetization parameterσ≫ 1) quickly evolves into a state with ultrarelativistic plasma temperature but mildly relativistic turbulent fluctuations. We present a phenomenological and numerical study suggesting that in this case, the exponentαin the power-law particle-energy distribution function,f(γ)dγγαdγ, depends on magnetic compressibility of turbulence. Our analytic prediction for the scaling exponentαis in good agreement with the numerical results.

Authors:
; ; ;
Award ID(s):
2010098 2010109
Publication Date:
NSF-PAR ID:
10362824
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume:
924
Issue:
1
Page Range or eLocation-ID:
Article No. L19
ISSN:
2041-8205
Publisher:
DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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