Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Kinetic Simulations of Nonrelativistic High-mach-number Perpendicular Shocks Propagating in a Turbulent Medium |
| Authors: |
Karol Fulat, Artem Bohdan, Gabriel Torralba Paz, Martin Pohl |
| Source: |
The Astrophysical Journal, Vol 959, Iss 2, p 119 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: |
IOP Publishing, 2023. |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Astrophysics |
| Subject Terms: |
Shocks, Supernova remnants, Plasma astrophysics, Computational methods, Astrophysics, QB460-466 |
| More Details: |
Strong nonrelativistic shocks are known to accelerate particles up to relativistic energies. However, for diffusive shock acceleration, electrons must have a highly suprathermal energy, implying the need for very efficient preacceleration. Most published studies consider shocks propagating through homogeneous plasma, which is an unrealistic assumption for astrophysical environments. Using 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations, we investigate electron acceleration and heating processes at nonrelativistic high-Mach-number shocks in electron-ion plasma with a turbulent upstream medium. For this purpose, slabs of plasma with compressive turbulence are simulated separately and then inserted into shock simulations, which require matching of the plasma slabs at the interface. Using a novel procedure of matching electromagnetic fields and currents, we perform simulations of perpendicular shocks setting different intensities of density fluctuations (≲10%) in the upstream region. The new simulation technique provides a framework for studying shocks propagating in turbulent media. We explore the impact of the fluctuations on electron heating, the dynamics of upstream electrons, and the driving of plasma instabilities. Our results indicate that while the presence of turbulence enhances variations in the upstream magnetic field, their levels remain too low to significantly influence the behavior of electrons at perpendicular shocks. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
1538-4357 |
| Relation: |
https://doaj.org/toc/1538-4357 |
| DOI: |
10.3847/1538-4357/ad04dc |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/b696107dddd04b068688ba6a68ff36c4 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.b696107dddd04b068688ba6a68ff36c4 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
