Energy spectra of cosmic rays accelerated at ultrarelativistic shock waves

Jun, 1998
4 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.Lett. 80 (1998) 3911
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Abstract: (arXiv)
Energy spectra of particles accelerated by the first-order Fermi mechanism are investigated at ultrarelativistic shock waves, outside the range of Lorentz factors considered previously. For particle transport near the shock a numerical method involving small amplitude pitch-angle scattering is applied for flows with Lorentz factors γ\gamma from 3 to 243. For large γ\gamma shocks a convergence of derived energy spectral indices up to the value σ2.2\sigma_\infty \approx 2.2 is observed for all considered turbulence amplitudes and magnetic field configurations. Recently the same index was derived for γ\gamma-ray bursts by Waxman [Astrophys. J. Lett. 485, L5 (1997)].
Note:
  • 4 pages, 6 figures Journal-ref: Phys.Rev.Lett. 80 (1998) 3911
  • cosmic radiation: energy spectrum
  • cosmic radiation: acceleration
  • shock waves: relativistic
  • photon: plasma
  • magnetic field
  • angular distribution
  • numerical calculations: Monte Carlo