Particle acceleration by astrophysical shocks.
Abstract
A new mechanism is proposed for acceleration of a power-law distribution of cosmic rays with approximately the observed slope. High-energy particles in the vicinity of a shock are scattered by Alfven waves carried by the converging fluid flow leading to a first-order acceleration process in which the escape time is automatically comparable to the acceleration time. Shocks from supernova explosions propagating through the interstellar medium can account for the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays. Similar processes occurring in extragalactic radio sources can lead to efficient in situ acceleration of relativistic electrons.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1086/182658
- Bibcode:
- 1978ApJ...221L..29B
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmic Rays;
- Particle Acceleration;
- Relativistic Particles;
- Shock Waves;
- Extragalactic Radio Sources;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Waves;
- Supernova Remnants;
- Space Radiation;
- Cosmic Rays:Acceleration;
- Cosmic Rays:Shock Waves