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arXiv · astro-ph/0507231

Inductive and Electrostatic Acceleration in Relativistic Jet-Plasma Interactions

Abstract

We report on the observation of rapid particle acceleration in numerical simulations of relativistic jet-plasma interactions and discuss the underlying mechanisms. The dynamics of a charge-neutral, narrow, electron-positron jet propagating through an unmagnetized electron-ion plasma was investigated using a three-dimensional, electromagnetic, particle-in-cell computer code. The interaction excited magnetic filamentation as well as electrostatic plasma instabilities. In some cases, the longitudinal electric fields generated inductively and electrostatically reached the cold plasma wave-breaking limit, and the longitudinal momentum of about half the positrons increased by 50% with a maximum gain exceeding a factor of 2 during the simulation period. Particle acceleration via these mechanisms occurred when the criteria for Weibel instability were satisfied.

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BibTeXRIS

Johnny S. T. Ng, Robert J. Noble. 2006-03-30. Inductive and Electrostatic Acceleration in Relativistic Jet-Plasma Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.96.115006

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