Nonlinear waves and shocks in relativistic two-fluid hydrodynamics

L. Haim (1) , M. Gedalin (1) , A. Spitkovsky (2) , V. Krasnoselskikh (3) , M. Balikhin (4)

1 BGU - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
2 Princeton University
3 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
4 ACSE - Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering [ Sheffield]

Relativistic shocks are present in a number of objects where violent processes are accompanied by relativistic outflows of plasma. The magnetization parameter sigma = B-2/4 pi nmc(2) of the ambient medium varies in wide range. Shocks with low sigma are expected to substantially enhance the magnetic fields in the shock front. In non-relativistic shocks the magnetic compression is limited by nonlinear effects related to the deceleration of flow. Two-fluid analysis of perpendicular relativistic shocks shows that the nonlinearities are suppressed for sigma << 1 and the magnetic field reaches nearly equipartition values when the magnetic energy density is of the order of the ion energy density, B-eq(2) similar to 4 pi nm(i)c(2)gamma. A large cross-shock potential e phi/m(i)c(2)gamma(0) similar to B-2/B-eq(2) develops across the electron-ion shock front. This potential is responsible for electron energization.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]

L. Haim, M. Gedalin, A. Spitkovsky, V. Krasnoselskikh, M. Balikhin. Nonlinear waves and shocks in relativistic two-fluid hydrodynamics. Journal of Plasma Physics, 2012, 78 (3), pp.295-302. ⟨10.1017/S002237781200013X⟩. ⟨insu-02515003⟩