Work

Long-Time Evolution of Magnetic Fields in Relativistic Gamma-Ray Burst Shocks

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate the long-time evolution of magnetic fields generated by the two-stream instability at ultra- and subrelativistic astrophysical collisionless shocks. Based on three-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results, we introduce a two-dimensional toy model of interacting current filaments. Within the framework of this model, we demonstrate that the field correlation scale in the region far downstream of the shock grows nearly as the light crossing time, λ( t ) ~ ct , thus making the diffusive field dissipation inefficient. The obtained theoretical scaling is tested using numerical PIC simulations. This result extends our understanding of the structure of collisionless shocks in gamma-ray bursts and other astrophysical objects.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1086/427921

Authors: Mikhail V. Medvedev, Massimiliano Fiore, Ricardo A. Fonseca, Luis O. Silva, Warren B. Mori

Institutions: University of Kansas, Kurchatov Institute, Instituto Superior Técnico, Grupo de Lasers e Plasmas, University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2952200965

FWCI: 6.499

Cites: 7

Cited by: 198

Related to: 10