Related papers: Cosmic Ray Acceleration at Relativistic Shock Wave…
Astrophysical shocks create cosmic rays by accelerating charged particles to relativistic speeds. However, the relative contribution of various types of shocks to the cosmic ray spectrum is still the subject of ongoing debate. Numerical…
The rate at which particles are accelerated by the first-order Fermi mechanism in shocks depends on the angle, \teq{\Tbone}, that the upstream magnetic field makes with the shock normal. The greater the obliquity the greater the rate, and…
While a growing body of research indicates that relativistic magnetic reconnection is a prodigious source of particle acceleration in high-energy astrophysical systems, the dominant acceleration mechanism remains controversial. Using a…
We consider diffusive shock acceleration in supernova remnants throughout their evolution including a radiative stage. It is found that a more efficient acceleration and fast exit of particles at the radiative stage results in the hardening…
Despite centuries of rigorous theoretical and observational research, the origin and acceleration mechanism of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) remain a mystery. In 1949, Fermi proposed a diffusive shock acceleration model that includes a…
Cosmic ray acceleration by shocks related with Slipping Interaction Regions (SIRs) in the Galactic Wind is considered. SIRs are similar to Solar Wind Corotating Interaction Regions. The spiral structure of our Galaxy results in a strong…
A recently proposed mechanism of acceleration of highest energy cosmic rays by polarization electric fields arising in plasmoids injected into neutron star magnetospheres is discussed.
It has been suggested that relativistic shocks in extragalactic sources may accelerate the most energetic cosmic rays. However, recent theoretical advances indicating that relativistic shocks are probably unable to accelerate particles to…
The maximum energy to which cosmic rays can be accelerated at weakly-magnetised ultra-relativistic shocks is investigated. We demonstrate that for such shocks, in which the scattering of energetic particles is mediated exclusively by ion…
The hypothesis that the entire cosmic ray spectrum, from $\lesssim1\,{\rm GeV}$ to $\gtrsim100\,{\rm EeV}$ energy, can be accounted for by diffusive shock acceleration on increasingly large scales is critically examined. Specifically, it is…
We have calculated the cosmic ray (CR) acceleration at young remnants from Type Ia supernovae expanding into a uniform interstellar medium (ISM). Adopting quasi-parallel magnetic fields, gasdynamic equations and the diffusion convection…
The understanding of the particle spectra resulting from acceleration in relativistic shocks as they occur in extragalactic sources, is essential for the interpretation of the cosmic ray spectrum above the ankle ($E_p>3\cdot 10^{18}$ eV).…
We report studies on first-order Fermi acceleration in parallel modified shock waves with a large scattering center compression ratio expected from turbulence transmission models. Using a Monte Carlo technique we have modeled particle…
Gamma-ray bursts and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays provide an important testing ground for fundamental physics. A simple-minded analysis of some gamma-ray bursts would lead to a huge estimate of the overall energy emitted, and this…
Observations of diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters indicate that cosmic-ray electrons are accelerated on $\sim$Mpc scales. However, protons appear to be accelerated less efficiently since their associated hadronic $\gamma$-ray…
We investigate shock acceleration in a realistic astrophysical environment with density inhomogeneities. The turbulence induced by the interaction of the shock precursor with upstream density fluctuations amplifies both upstream and…
There are two distinct regimes of the first order Fermi acceleration at shocks. The first is a linear (test particle) regime in which most of the shock energy goes into thermal and bulk motion of the plasma. The second is an efficient…
We consider the acceleration of charged particles near ultra-relativistic shocks, with Lorentz factor Gamma_s >> 1. We present simulations of the acceleration process and compare these with results from semi-analytical calculations. We show…
A mathematical approach to investigate particle acceleration at shock waves moving at arbitrary speed in a medium with arbitrary scattering properties was first discussed in (Vietri 2003) and (Blasi & Vietri 2005}. We use this method and…
According to structure formation simulations, weak shocks with typical Mach number, $M_{\rm s}\lesssim 3$, are expected to form in merging galaxy clusters. The presence of such shocks has been indicated by X-ray and radio observations of…