Kinetic Studies of the Relativistic Pinch: A Key to Particle Acceleration in Astrophysical Plasmas

相对论箍缩的动力学研究：天体物理等离子体中粒子加速的关键

基本信息

批准号：
1903335
负责人：
Mitchell Begelman
金额：
$ 74.92万
依托单位：
University of Colorado at Boulder
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2019-08-01 至 2024-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1903335&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Kinetic Studies Relativistic Pinch Key

项目摘要

Rapidly flaring gamma-rays and other radiative signals from blazar jets and pulsar wind nebulae indicate that standard models for energy dissipation and particle acceleration in relativistic cosmic plasmas, which invoke shock waves and hydromagnetic diffusion, are probably incorrect. This project uses powerful new computational tools to study a promising alternative: the direct dissipation of magnetic energy through reconnection and turbulence in collisionless relativistic plasmas. The study will explore relativistic particle acceleration and the associated radiation in a much more realistic astrophysical context than the idealized configurations used to obtain encouraging preliminary results. This work will yield insights into the interactions of black holes with their cosmic environments. The innovative approaches to PIC simulation can be applied to a broad range of problems in space physics and laboratory plasmas. There is a range of associated research experiences for undergraduates, as well as support, training and mentorship for a postdoctoral researcher. Contribution to public scientific literacy comes through collaboration with the Fiske Planetarium, using visually arresting graphics and animations from the simulations.Simulations which have started from idealized configurations have shown robust nonthermal particle energy distributions and variability characteristics. The particle distributions correlate with the initial magnetization of the plasma, which is the ratio of magnetic energy density to relativistic plasma enthalpy. Surprisingly, similar correlations develop in systems with different compositions (pairs or electron-ion plasma) and in setups ranging from idealized reconnecting current sheets to three-dimensional driven turbulence. A vertical kinetic study will follow unstable magneto-hydrodynamic pinch configurations through their nonlinear development to the resulting turbulence, reconnection, particle acceleration, and radiation. The well-tested Zeltron radiative Particle-in-Cell (PIC) code, developed by this team and publicly available since 2014, enables a thorough analysis of "kinetic beaming," and a study of the relationships between microscopic kinetic processes and macroscopic features such as secondary flux ropes, current sheets, and bulk flows. State-of-the-art computational tools allow kinetic and radiative plasma phenomena to be related to macroscopic magnetohydrodynamic instability, under relativistic conditions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

迅速燃烧的伽马射线和其他来自Blazar喷气机和脉冲星风星云的辐射信号表明，相对论宇宙等离子体中能量耗散和颗粒加速度的标准模型可能是不正确的。该项目使用强大的新计算工具来研究一种有希望的替代方法：通过重新连接和无碰撞相对论等离子体的重新连接和湍流的直接消散。该研究将在更现实的天体物理环境中探索相对论的粒子加速度和相关的辐射，而不是用于获得令人鼓舞的初步结果的理想化配置。这项工作将洞悉黑洞与宇宙环境的相互作用。 PIC模拟的创新方法可以应用于太空物理和实验室等离子体中的各种问题。本科生有一系列相关的研究经验，以及博士后研究人员的支持，培训和指导。对公共科学素养的贡献是通过与Fiske天文馆的合作，使用模拟的视觉捕捉图形和动画来实现的。从理想化的配置开始的模拟显示出强大的非热粒子能量分布和可变性特征。粒子分布与等离子体的初始磁化相关，这是磁能密度与相对论等离子体焓的比率。令人惊讶的是，在具有不同组成（对或电子等离子体）的系统中以及从理想化的重新连接电流板到三维驱动的湍流的设置中形成了类似的相关性。一项垂直动力学研究将遵循不稳定的磁性 - 流动力捏合构型，通过其非线性发育到产生的湍流，重新连接，颗粒加速度和辐射。经过经过良好测试的Zeltron辐射粒子中（PIC）代码（由该团队开发并自2014年以来公开发行），可以彻底分析“动力学光束”，并研究了微观动力学过程与微观动力学特征（例如二次磁通绳，当前的表面，电流表和散装流量）之间的关系。最先进的计算工具使动力学和辐射等离子体现象可以与宏观磁性水力动力学不稳定性有关，在相对论条件下。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被视为值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响来通过评估来获得支持的审查标准。

项目成果

期刊论文数量（20）

专著数量（0）

科研奖励数量（0）

会议论文数量（0）

专利数量（0）

Relativistic Alfvén Waves Entering Charge-starvation in the Magnetospheres of Neutron Stars

相对论性阿尔芬波在中子星磁层中进入电荷匮乏状态

DOI：
10.3847/1538-4357/ac59b1
发表时间：
2022
期刊：
The Astrophysical Journal
影响因子：
0
作者：
Chen, Alexander Y.;Yuan, Yajie;Beloborodov, Andrei M.;Li, Xinyu
通讯作者：
Li, Xinyu

Kinetic simulations of imbalanced turbulence in a relativistic plasma: Net flow and particle acceleration

相对论等离子体中不平衡湍流的动力学模拟：净流和粒子加速

DOI：
10.1093/mnras/stab3209
发表时间：
2021
期刊：
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
影响因子：
4.8
作者：
Hankla, Amelia M;Zhdankin, Vladimir;Werner, Gregory R;Uzdensky, Dmitri A;Begelman, Mitchell C
通讯作者：
Begelman, Mitchell C

Kinetic turbulence in shining pair plasma: intermittent beaming and thermalization by radiative cooling

DOI：
10.1093/mnras/staa284
发表时间：
2019-08
期刊：
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
影响因子：
4.8
作者：
V. Zhdankin;D. Uzdensky;G. Werner;M. Begelman
通讯作者：
V. Zhdankin;D. Uzdensky;G. Werner;M. Begelman

Kinetic Simulations of Instabilities and Particle Acceleration in Cylindrical Magnetized Relativistic Jets

圆柱形磁化相对论射流中不稳定性和粒子加速的动力学模拟

DOI：
10.3847/1538-4357/ac6acd
发表时间：
2022
期刊：
The Astrophysical Journal
影响因子：
0
作者：
Ortuño-Macías, José;Nalewajko, Krzysztof;Uzdensky, Dmitri A.;Begelman, Mitchell C.;Werner, Gregory R.;Chen, Alexander Y.;Mishra, Bhupendra
通讯作者：
Mishra, Bhupendra

Relativistic Collisionless Shocks in Inhomogeneous Magnetized Plasmas

非均匀磁化等离子体中的相对论无碰撞激波