TY - JOUR
T1 - Three-dimensional modeling of relativistic collisionless ion-electron shocks
AU - Haugbølle, Troels
PY - 2011/10/1
Y1 - 2011/10/1
N2 - Two-dimensional (2D) modeling of collisionless shocks has been of tremendous importance in understanding the physics of nonlinear evolution, momentum transfer, and particle acceleration, but current computer capacities have now reached a point where three-dimensional (3D) modeling is becoming feasible. We present the first 3D model of a fully developed and relaxed relativistic ion-electron shock, and analyze and compare it to similar 2D models. Quantitative and qualitative differences are found with respect to the 2D models. The shock jump conditions are naturally different, because of the extra degree of freedom, but in addition it is found that strong parallel electric fields develop at the shock interface, the level of magnetic field energy is lower, and the non-thermal particle distribution is shallower with a power-law index of ∼ 2.2.
AB - Two-dimensional (2D) modeling of collisionless shocks has been of tremendous importance in understanding the physics of nonlinear evolution, momentum transfer, and particle acceleration, but current computer capacities have now reached a point where three-dimensional (3D) modeling is becoming feasible. We present the first 3D model of a fully developed and relaxed relativistic ion-electron shock, and analyze and compare it to similar 2D models. Quantitative and qualitative differences are found with respect to the 2D models. The shock jump conditions are naturally different, because of the extra degree of freedom, but in addition it is found that strong parallel electric fields develop at the shock interface, the level of magnetic field energy is lower, and the non-thermal particle distribution is shallower with a power-law index of ∼ 2.2.
U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/739/2/L42
DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/739/2/L42
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0067-0049
SN - 1538-4357
SN - 1538-4365
VL - 739
JO - The Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - The Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 2
M1 - L42
ER -