Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma

A. Rigby; F. Cruz; B. Albertazzi; R. Bamford; A. R. Bell; J. E. Cross; F. Fraschetti; P. Graham; Y. Hara; P. M. Kozlowski; Y. Kuramitsu; D. Q. Lamb; S. Lebedev; J. R. Marques; F. Miniati; T. Morita; M. Oliver; B. Reville; Y. Sakawa; S. Sarkar; C. Spindloe; R. Trines; P. Tzeferacos; L. O. Silva; R. Bingham; M. Koenig; G. Gregori

doi:10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2

Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma

A. Rigby, F. Cruz, B. Albertazzi, R. Bamford, A. R. Bell, J. E. Cross, F. Fraschetti, P. Graham, Y. Hara, P. M. Kozlowski, Y. Kuramitsu, D. Q. Lamb, S. Lebedev, J. R. Marques, F. Miniati, T. Morita, M. Oliver, B. Reville, Y. Sakawa, S. SarkarC. Spindloe, R. Trines, P. Tzeferacos, L. O. Silva, R. Bingham, M. Koenig, G. Gregori

Theoretical high energy, astroparticle and gravitational physics

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Astrophysical shocks are commonly revealed by the non-thermal emission of energetic electrons accelerated in situ ^1-3 . Strong shocks are expected to accelerate particles to very high energies ^4-6 ; however, they require a source of particles with velocities fast enough to permit multiple shock crossings. While the resulting diffusive shock acceleration ⁴ process can account for observations, the kinetic physics regulating the continuous injection of non-thermal particles is not well understood. Indeed, this injection problem is particularly acute for electrons, which rely on high-frequency plasma fluctuations to raise them above the thermal pool ^7,8 . Here we show, using laboratory laser-produced shock experiments, that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, significant electron pre-heating is achieved. We demonstrate that the key mechanism in producing these energetic electrons is through the generation of lower-hybrid turbulence via shock-reflected ions. Our experimental results are analogous to many astrophysical systems, including the interaction of a comet with the solar wind ⁹ , a setting where electron acceleration via lower-hybrid waves is possible.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Physics
Volume	14
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	475-479
ISSN	1745-2473
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2018

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Rigby, A., Cruz, F., Albertazzi, B., Bamford, R., Bell, A. R., Cross, J. E., Fraschetti, F., Graham, P., Hara, Y., Kozlowski, P. M., Kuramitsu, Y., Lamb, D. Q., Lebedev, S., Marques, J. R., Miniati, F., Morita, T., Oliver, M., Reville, B., Sakawa, Y., ... Gregori, G. (2018). Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma. Nature Physics, 14(5), 475-479. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2

Rigby, A, Cruz, F, Albertazzi, B, Bamford, R, Bell, AR, Cross, JE, Fraschetti, F, Graham, P, Hara, Y, Kozlowski, PM, Kuramitsu, Y, Lamb, DQ, Lebedev, S, Marques, JR, Miniati, F, Morita, T, Oliver, M, Reville, B, Sakawa, Y, Sarkar, S, Spindloe, C, Trines, R, Tzeferacos, P, Silva, LO, Bingham, R, Koenig, M & Gregori, G 2018, 'Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma', Nature Physics, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 475-479. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2

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title = "Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma",

abstract = " Astrophysical shocks are commonly revealed by the non-thermal emission of energetic electrons accelerated in situ 1-3 . Strong shocks are expected to accelerate particles to very high energies 4-6 ; however, they require a source of particles with velocities fast enough to permit multiple shock crossings. While the resulting diffusive shock acceleration 4 process can account for observations, the kinetic physics regulating the continuous injection of non-thermal particles is not well understood. Indeed, this injection problem is particularly acute for electrons, which rely on high-frequency plasma fluctuations to raise them above the thermal pool 7,8 . Here we show, using laboratory laser-produced shock experiments, that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, significant electron pre-heating is achieved. We demonstrate that the key mechanism in producing these energetic electrons is through the generation of lower-hybrid turbulence via shock-reflected ions. Our experimental results are analogous to many astrophysical systems, including the interaction of a comet with the solar wind 9 , a setting where electron acceleration via lower-hybrid waves is possible. ",

author = "A. Rigby and F. Cruz and B. Albertazzi and R. Bamford and Bell, {A. R.} and Cross, {J. E.} and F. Fraschetti and P. Graham and Y. Hara and Kozlowski, {P. M.} and Y. Kuramitsu and Lamb, {D. Q.} and S. Lebedev and Marques, {J. R.} and F. Miniati and T. Morita and M. Oliver and B. Reville and Y. Sakawa and S. Sarkar and C. Spindloe and R. Trines and P. Tzeferacos and Silva, {L. O.} and R. Bingham and M. Koenig and G. Gregori",

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doi = "10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2",

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T1 - Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma

AU - Rigby, A.

AU - Cruz, F.

AU - Albertazzi, B.

AU - Bamford, R.

AU - Bell, A. R.

AU - Cross, J. E.

AU - Fraschetti, F.

AU - Graham, P.

AU - Hara, Y.

AU - Kozlowski, P. M.

AU - Kuramitsu, Y.

AU - Lamb, D. Q.

AU - Lebedev, S.

AU - Marques, J. R.

AU - Miniati, F.

AU - Morita, T.

AU - Oliver, M.

AU - Reville, B.

AU - Sakawa, Y.

AU - Sarkar, S.

AU - Spindloe, C.

AU - Trines, R.

AU - Tzeferacos, P.

AU - Silva, L. O.

AU - Bingham, R.

AU - Koenig, M.

AU - Gregori, G.

PY - 2018/5/1

Y1 - 2018/5/1

N2 - Astrophysical shocks are commonly revealed by the non-thermal emission of energetic electrons accelerated in situ 1-3 . Strong shocks are expected to accelerate particles to very high energies 4-6 ; however, they require a source of particles with velocities fast enough to permit multiple shock crossings. While the resulting diffusive shock acceleration 4 process can account for observations, the kinetic physics regulating the continuous injection of non-thermal particles is not well understood. Indeed, this injection problem is particularly acute for electrons, which rely on high-frequency plasma fluctuations to raise them above the thermal pool 7,8 . Here we show, using laboratory laser-produced shock experiments, that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, significant electron pre-heating is achieved. We demonstrate that the key mechanism in producing these energetic electrons is through the generation of lower-hybrid turbulence via shock-reflected ions. Our experimental results are analogous to many astrophysical systems, including the interaction of a comet with the solar wind 9 , a setting where electron acceleration via lower-hybrid waves is possible.

AB - Astrophysical shocks are commonly revealed by the non-thermal emission of energetic electrons accelerated in situ 1-3 . Strong shocks are expected to accelerate particles to very high energies 4-6 ; however, they require a source of particles with velocities fast enough to permit multiple shock crossings. While the resulting diffusive shock acceleration 4 process can account for observations, the kinetic physics regulating the continuous injection of non-thermal particles is not well understood. Indeed, this injection problem is particularly acute for electrons, which rely on high-frequency plasma fluctuations to raise them above the thermal pool 7,8 . Here we show, using laboratory laser-produced shock experiments, that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, significant electron pre-heating is achieved. We demonstrate that the key mechanism in producing these energetic electrons is through the generation of lower-hybrid turbulence via shock-reflected ions. Our experimental results are analogous to many astrophysical systems, including the interaction of a comet with the solar wind 9 , a setting where electron acceleration via lower-hybrid waves is possible.

U2 - 10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2

DO - 10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1745-2473

VL - 14

SP - 475

EP - 479

JO - Nature Physics

JF - Nature Physics

IS - 5

ER -

Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma

Abstract

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