arXiv subjects

Y. A. Gallant

Publications and source records attributed to Y. A. Gallant.

147 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv1999

Particle acceleration at oblique shocks and discontinuities of the density profile

In the theory of diffusive acceleration at oblique shock fronts the question of the existence of a discontinuity of energetic particle density is contentious. The resolution of this problem is interesting from a theoretical point of view, and potentially for the interpretation of observations of particle densities at heliospheric shocks and of high-resolution radio observations of the rims of supernova remnants. It can be shown analytically that an isotropic particle distribution at a shock front implies continuity of the particle density -- whether or not the shock is oblique. However, if the obliquity of the shock induces an anisotropy, a jump is permitted. Both semi-analytic computations and Monte-Carlo simulations are used to show that, for interesting parameter ranges, a jump is indeed produced, with accelerated particles concentrated in a precursor ahead of the shock front.

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arXiv1996

Stochastic particle acceleration at shocks in the presence of braided magnetic fields

The theory of diffusive acceleration of energetic particles at shock fronts assumes charged particles undergo spatial diffusion in a uniform magnetic field. If, however, the magnetic field is not uniform, but has a stochastic or braided structure, the transport of charged particles across the average direction of the field is more complicated. Assuming quasi-linear behaviour of the field lines, the particles undergo sub-diffusion on short time scales. We derive the propagator for such motion, which differs from the Gaussian form relevant for diffusion, and apply it to a configuration with a plane shock front whose normal is perpendicular to the average field direction. Expressions are given for the acceleration time as a function of the diffusion coefficient of the wandering magnetic field lines and the spatial diffusion coefficient of the charged particles parallel to the local field. In addition we calculate the spatial dependence of the particle density in both the upstream and downstream plasmas. In contrast to the diffusive case, the density of particles at the shock front is lower than it is far downstream. This is a consequence of the partial trapping of particles by structures in the magnetic field. As a result, the spectrum of accelerated particles is a power-law in momentum which is steeper than in the diffusive case. For a phase- space density $f\propto p^{-s}$, we find $s=\sdiff[1+1/(2\rcomp)]$, where $\rcomp$ is the compression ratio of the shock front and $\sdiff$ is the standard result of diffusive acceleration: $\sdiff=3\rcomp/(\rcomp-1)$. A strong shock in a monatomic ideal gas yields a spectrum of $s=4.5$. In the case of electrons, this corresponds to a radio synchrotron spectral index of $α=0.75$.

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arXiv1995

Anomalous Transport and Particle Acceleration at Shocks

The theory of first order Fermi acceleration at shocks assumes that particles diffuse due to scattering off slow-moving magnetic irregularities. However, cosmic rays are closely tied to magnetic field lines, and the transport process, particularly across the direction of the field, is likely to be more complicated. To describe cross field transport we employ recent extensions of the Rechester-Rosenbluth theory in localised stochastic regions of magnetic field. During acceleration at a shock and when the motion along the field is diffusive, there is a transition at a critical energy from \lq\lq sub-diffusive\rq\rq\ motion, where the mean square displacement of a particle increases with time as $t^{1/2}$, to compound diffusion, a combined process involving diffusion along a magnetic field which is itself wandering. Requiring this critical energy to be less than the system cut-off in a SNR of radius $R$ places an upper limit on the coherence length, $λ$, of the magnetic field for which diffusive shock acceleration can occur at quasi-perpendicular shocks when field line wandering dominates the effective transport of particles: $λ<R(U/v)^{1/2}$ where $U$ is the shock speed and $v$ the particle speed. The acceleration rate for particles in the sub-diffusive regime is derived and its implication for the origin of high energy cosmic rays is discussed.

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