Abstract
I review the current status of Fermi acceleration theory at relativistic shocks. I first discuss the relativistic shock jump conditions, then describe the nonrelativistic Fermi mechanism and the differences introduced by relativistic flows. I present numerical calculations of the accelerated particle spectrum, and examine the maximum energy attainable by this process. I briefly consider the minimum energy for Fermi acceleration, and a possible electron pre-acceleration mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
A. Achterberg, Y.A. Gallant, J.G. Kirk, A.W. Guthmann: M.N.R.A.S, submitted (2001)
W.I. Axford, E. Leer, G. Skadron: In: 15th International Cosmic Ray Conference, at Plovdiv, Bulgaria, August 13–26, 1977. Conference Papers, Vol. 11, p. 132 (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia1978)
J. Bednarz, M. Ostrowski: Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 3911 (1998)
A.R. Bell: M.N.R.A.S. 182, 147 (1978)
A.R. Bell: M.N.R.A.S. 182, 443 (1978)
A.R. Bell, S.G. Lucek: M.N.R.A.S. 321, 433 (2001)
E.G. Berezhko, D.C. Ellison: Ap. J. 526, 385 (1999)
R.D. Blandford, C.F. McKee: Phys. Fluids 19, 1130 (1976)
R.D. Blandford, J.P. Ostriker: Ap. J. 221, L29 (1978)
E. Fermi: Phys. Rev. 75, 1169 (1949)
D.A. Frail, T.J. Galama: personal communication (2000)
T.J. Galama, R.A.M.J. Wijers, M. Bremer, P.J. Groot, R.G. Strom, A.G. de Bruyn, C. Kouveliotou, C.R. Robinson, J. van Paradijs: Ap. J. 500, L101 (1998)
Y.A. Gallant, A. Achterberg: M.N.R.A.S. 305, L6 (1999)
Y.A. Gallant, A. Achterberg, J.G. Kirk, A.W. Guthmann: In: 5th Huntsville Gamma-Ray Burst Burst Symposium, ed. by ed]R.M. Kippen, R.S. Mallozzi, G.J. Fishman, p. 524 (AIP, New York 2000)
Y.A. Gallant, J. Arons: Ap. J. 435, 230 (1994)
Y.A. Gallant, M. Hoshino, A.B. Langdon, J. Arons, C.E. Max: Ap. J. 391, 73 (1992)
A.M. Hillas: Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 22, 425 (1984)
M. Hoshino, J. Arons, Y.A. Gallant, A.B. Langdon: Ap. J. 390, 454 (1992)
C.F. Kennel, F. Coroniti: Ap. J. 283, 710 (1984)
J.G. Kirk, P. Duffy: J. Phys. G 25, R163 (1999)
J.G. Kirk, A.W. Guthmann, Y.A. Gallant, A. Achterberg: Ap. J. 542, 235 (2000)
J.G. Kirk, P. Schneider: Ap. J. 315, 425 (1987)
G.F. Krymskii: Sov. Phys. Dokl. 22, 327 (1977)
P. Mészáros, P. Laguna, M.J. Rees: Ap. J. 415, 181 (1993)
M. Milgrom, V. Usov: Ap. J. 449, L37 (1995)
R. Narayan, B. Paczyński, T. Piran: Ap. J. 395, L83 (1992)
J.A. Peacock: M.N.R.A.S. 196, 135 (1981)
T. Piran, A. Shemi, R. Narayan: M.N.R.A.S. 263, 861 (1993)
J.L. Synge: The Relativistic Gas (North-Holland, Amsterdam 1957)
M. Vietri: Ap. J. 453, 883 (1995)
E. Waxman: Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 386 (1995)
E. Waxman: Ap. J. 485, L5 (1997)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gallant, Y.A. (2002). Particle Acceleration at Relativistic Shocks. In: Guthmann, A.W., Georganopoulos, M., Manolakou, K., Marcowith, A. (eds) Relativistic Flows in Astrophysics. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 589. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46025-X_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46025-X_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43518-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46025-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive