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A relativistic partially electromagnetic planar plasma shock

M. E. Dieckmann·P. K. Shukla·L. O. C. Drury
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Abstract

We model relativistically colliding plasma by PIC simulations in one and two spatial dimensions, taking an ion-to-electron mass ratio of 400. Energy dissipation by a wave precursor of mixed polarity and different densities of the colliding plasma slabs results in a relativistic forward shock forming on millisecond timescales. The forward shock accelerates electrons to ultrarelativistic energies and reflects upstream ions, which drag the electrons along to preserve the plasma quasi-neutrality. No reverse shock forms. The shock may be representative for internal gamma ray burst shocks.

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M. E. Dieckmann, P. K. Shukla, L. O. C. Drury. 2007-02-02. A relativistic partially electromagnetic planar plasma shock. https://doi.org/10.1086/525516

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