Work

Cosmic ray transport and acceleration with magnetic mirroring

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT We analyse the transport of cosmic rays (CR) in magnetic fields that are structured on scales greater than the CR Larmor radius. We solve the Vlasov–Fokker–Planck equation for various mixes of mirroring and small-angle scattering and show that relatively small deviations from a uniform magnetic field can induce mirroring and inhibit CR transport to levels that mimic Bohm diffusion in which the CR mean-free path is comparable with the CR Larmor radius. Our calculations suggest that shocks may accelerate CR to the Hillas energy without the need for magnetic field amplification on the Larmor scale. This re-opens the possibility, subject to more comprehensive simulations, that young supernova remnants may be accelerating CR to PeV energies, and maybe even to higher energies beyond the knee in the energy spectrum. We limit our discussion of CR acceleration to shocks that are non-relativistic.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staf562

Authors: A R Bell, J H Matthews, A M Taylor, G Giacinti

Institutions: University of Oxford, Central Laser Facility, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,046

Funders: Howard Gilman Foundation, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron