English

Ultra-relativistic double explosions

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2017-04-24 v1

Abstract

We consider fluid dynamics of relativistic double explosion - when a point explosion with energy E1E_1 is followed by a second explosion with energy E2E_2 after time tdt_d (the second explosion could be in a form of a long lasting wind). The primary explosion creates a self-similar relativistic blast wave propagating with \Lf\ Γ1(t)\Gamma_1(t). A sufficiently strong second explosion, with total energy E2102E1E_2 \geq 10^{-2} E_1, creates a fast second shock in the external fluid previously shocked by the primary shock. At times longer than the interval between the explosions tdt_d, yet short compared with the time when the second shock catches up the primary shock at tdΓ12\sim t_d \Gamma_1^2, the structure of the second shock is approximately self-similar. Self-similar structure of the second shock exist for the case of constant external density (in this case Γ2t7/3\Gamma_2 \propto t^{-7/3}), but not for the wind environment. At early times the \Lf\ of the second shock may exceed that of the primary shock and may boost the synchrotron emission of locally accelerated electrons into the Fermi LAT range.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1701.06604,
  title  = {Ultra-relativistic double explosions},
  author = {Maxim Lyutikov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1701.06604},
  year   = {2017}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T17:57:48.094Z