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.

来自耀变喷流和脉冲星风星云的快速耀斑伽马射线和其他辐射信号表明，相对论性宇宙等离子体中的能量耗散和粒子加速的标准模型（引发冲击波和水磁扩散）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前途的替代方案：通过无碰撞相对论等离子体中的重联和湍流直接耗散磁能。该研究将在比用于获得令人鼓舞的初步结果的理想化配置更现实的天体物理背景下探索相对论粒子加速和相关辐射。这项工作将深入了解黑洞与其宇宙环境的相互作用。 PIC 模拟的创新方法可应用于空间物理和实验室等离子体中的广泛问题。为本科生提供一系列相关的研究经验，并为博士后研究员提供支持、培训和指导。通过与菲斯克天文馆的合作，使用来自模拟的视觉上引人注目的图形和动画，对公众科学素养做出了贡献。从理想化配置开始的模拟显示了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强度相关，初始磁化强度是磁能密度与相对论性等离子体焓的比值。令人惊讶的是，在具有不同成分（对或电子离子等离子体）的系统中以及从理想化的重新连接电流片到三维驱动的湍流的设置中，类似的相关性也会出现。垂直动力学研究将跟踪不稳定的磁流体动力学箍缩配置，通过其非线性发展到由此产生的湍流、重新连接、粒子加速和辐射。经过充分测试的 Zeltron 辐射细胞内粒子 (PIC) 代码由该团队开发，自 2014 年起公开发布，可对“动力学光束”进行彻底分析，并研究微观动力学过程与宏观特征之间的关系，例如作为次级磁通绳、电流片和总体流。最先进的计算工具允许在相对论条件下将动力学和辐射等离子体现象与宏观磁流体动力学不稳定性相关联。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响进行评估，被认为值得支持审查标准。

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