Particle-in cell Simulations of Relativistic Jets: Magnetic Reconnection and Synthetic Spectra
Abstract
We present the first results of tree-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that explore self-consistently the process of particle acceleration via turbulent magnetic reconnection in relativistic, electron-proton plasma jets that contain an initial helical magnetic field. Here, the jets are cylindrical and injected into an ambient plasma at rest. We use a simulation setup that allows the growth of kinetic plasma instabilities (Kelvin-Helmholtz, Mushroom, and Weibel instabilities) from the linear stage to the nonlinear one. In the nonlinear stage, the helical magnetic fields are untangled under the action of reconnection-like processes and disappear. The disappearance of the helical fields generates magnetic field islands, which then interact with each other producing turbulent magnetic fields. In these turbulent fields, further reconnection events take place. Then, the turbulent reconnection explosively converts the magnetic field energy into kinetic energy of the plasma, so that the jet electrons are rapidly accelerated. The ambient electrons entrained in the relativistic jet are strongly accelerated as well. We also present the associated synthetic spectra emitted by the electrons accelerated in the jets. The implications of our results for relativistic jets from astrophysical black holes will be also discussed.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E1551D