Asymptotic Particle Spectra and Plasma Flows at Strong Shocks
Open Access
- 20 January 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 511 (1) , L53-L56
- https://doi.org/10.1086/311825
Abstract
In a test-particle (linear) acceleration theory, the shock compression controls the particle spectrum. We present a nonlinear self-similar solution in which the accelerated particles change the flow structure near the shock so strongly that the total shock compression r may become very high. Despite this, the energy spectrum remains close to E-3/2 independent of r. This result is valid for the particle diffusivity κ(p) growing with momentum faster than p1/2, which is believed to be the case.Keywords
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