The proton distribution function in weakly magnetized turbulent plasmas

Aug, 1998
7 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J. 520 (1999) 849
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Citations per year

19982002200620102014104
Abstract: (arXiv)
We calculate the proton distribution function due to heating by subsonic (Alfvenic) turbulence in a weakly magnetized collisionless plasma. The distribution function is nonthermal. For non-relativistic energies, it is an exponential of the magnitude of the proton velocity. For ultra-relativistic energies, it can be characterized as a power law with a momentum-dependent slope.