skip to main content


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.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
2010098 2010109
NSF-PAR ID:
10362824
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume:
924
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2041-8205
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: Article No. L19
Size(s):
["Article No. L19"]
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Relativistic magnetically dominated turbulence is an efficient engine for particle acceleration in a collisionless plasma. Ultrarelativistic particles accelerated by interactions with turbulent fluctuations form nonthermal power-law distribution functions in the momentum (or energy) space,f(γ)dγγαdγ, whereγis the Lorenz factor. We argue that in addition to exhibiting non-Gaussian distributions over energies, particles energized by relativistic turbulence also become highly intermittent in space. Based on particle-in-cell numerical simulations and phenomenological modeling, we propose that the bulk plasma density has lognormal statistics, while the density of the accelerated particles,n, has a power-law distribution function,P(n)dnnβdn. We argue that the scaling exponents are related asβα+ 1, which is broadly consistent with numerical simulations. Non-space-filling, intermittent distributions of plasma density and energy fluctuations may have implications for plasma heating and for radiation produced by relativistic turbulence.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    We present the results of 3D particle-in-cell simulations that explore relativistic magnetic reconnection in pair plasma with strong synchrotron cooling and a small mass fraction of nonradiating ions. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the current sheet is highly sensitive to the dynamic efficiency of radiative cooling. Specifically, stronger cooling leads to more significant compression of the plasma and magnetic field within the plasmoids. We demonstrate that ions can be efficiently accelerated to energies exceeding the plasma magnetization parameter, ≫σ, and form a hard power-law energy distribution,fiγ−1. This conclusion implies a highly efficient proton acceleration in the magnetospheres of young pulsars. Conversely, the energies of pairs are limited to eitherσin the strong cooling regime or the radiation burnoff limit,γsyn, when cooling is weak. We find that the high-energy radiation from pairs above the synchrotron burnoff limit,εc≈ 16 MeV, is only efficiently produced in the strong cooling regime,γsyn<σ. In this regime, we find that the spectral cutoff scales asεcutεc(σ/γsyn) and the highest energy photons are beamed along the direction of the upstream magnetic field, consistent with the phenomenological models of gamma-ray emission from young pulsars. Furthermore, our results place constraints on the reconnection-driven models of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Magnetic reconnection is often invoked as a source of high-energy particles, and in relativistic astrophysical systems it is regarded as a prime candidate for powering fast and bright flares. We present a novel analytical model—supported and benchmarked with large-scale three-dimensional kinetic particle-in-cell simulations in electron–positron plasmas—that elucidates the physics governing the generation of power-law energy spectra in relativistic reconnection. Particles with Lorentz factorγ≳ 3σ(here,σis the magnetization) gain most of their energy in the inflow region, while meandering between the two sides of the reconnection layer. Their acceleration time istaccγηrec1ωc120γωc1, whereηrec≃ 0.06 is the inflow speed in units of the speed of light andωc=eB0/mcis the gyrofrequency in the upstream magnetic field. They leave the region of active energization aftertesc, when they get captured by one of the outflowing flux ropes of reconnected plasma. We directly measuretescin our simulations and find thattesctaccforσ≳ few. This leads to a universal (i.e.,σ-independent) power-law spectrumdNfree/dγγ1for the particles undergoing active acceleration, anddN/dγγ2for the overall particle population. Our results help to shed light on the ubiquitous presence of power-law particle and photon spectra in astrophysical nonthermal sources.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    The dissipation processes which transform electromagnetic energy into kinetic particle energy in space plasmas are still not fully understood. Of particular interest is the distribution of the dissipated energy among different species of charged particles. The Jovian magnetosphere is a unique laboratory to study this question because outflowing ions from the moon Io create a high diversity in ion species. In this work, we use multispecies ion observations and magnetic field measurements by the Galileo spacecraft. We limit our study to observations of plasmoids in the Jovian magnetotail, because there is strong ion acceleration in these structures. Our model predicts that electromagnetic turbulence in plasmoids plays an essential role in the acceleration of oxygen, sulfur, and hydrogen ions. The observations show a decrease of the oxygen and sulfur energy spectral indexγat ∼30 to ∼400 keV/nuc with the wave power indicating an energy transfer from electromagnetic waves to particles, in agreement with the model. The wave power threshold for effective acceleration is of the order of 10 nT2Hz−1, as in terrestrial plasmoids. However, this is not observed for hydrogen ions, implying that processes other than wave‐particle interaction are more important for the acceleration of these ions or that the time and energy resolution of the observations is too coarse. The results are expected to be confirmed by improved plasma measurements by the Juno spacecraft.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    A knowledge-based understanding of the plasma-surface-interaction with the aim to precisely control (reactive) sputtering processes for the deposition of thin films with tailored and reproducible properties is highly desired for industrial applications. In order to understand the effect of plasma parameter variations on the film properties, a single plasma parameter needs to be varied, while all other process and plasma parameters should remain constant. In this work, we use the Electrical Asymmetry Effect in a multi-frequency capacitively coupled plasma to control the ion energy at the substrate without affecting the ion-to-growth flux ratio by adjusting the relative phase between two consecutive driving harmonics and their voltage amplitudes. Measurements of the ion energy distribution function and ion flux at the substrate by a retarding field energy analyzer combined with the determined deposition rateRdfor a reactive Ar/N2(8:1) plasma at 0.5 Pa show a possible variation of the mean ion energy at the substrateEmigwithin a range of 38 and 81 eV that allows the modification of the film characteristics at the grounded electrode, when changing the relative phase shiftθbetween the applied voltage frequencies, while the ion-to-growth flux ratio Γiggrcan be kept constant. AlN thin films are deposited and exhibit an increase in compressive film stress from −5.8 to −8.4 GPa as well as an increase in elastic modulus from 175 to 224 GPa as a function of the mean ion energy. Moreover, a transition from the preferential orientation (002) at low ion energies to the (100), (101) and (110) orientations at higher ion energies is observed. In this way, the effects of the ion energy on the growing film are identified, while other process relevant parameters remain unchanged.

     
    more » « less