Lyutikov, M, Komissarov, S, Sironi, L et al. (1 more author) (2018) Particle acceleration in explosive relativistic reconnection events and Crab Nebula gamma-ray flares. Journal of Plasma Physics, 84 (2). 635840201. ISSN 0022-3778
Abstract
We develop a model of gamma-ray flares of the Crab Nebula resulting from the magnetic reconnection events in a highly magnetised relativistic plasma. We first discuss physical parameters of the Crab Nebula and review the theory of pulsar winds and termination shocks. We also review the principle points of particle acceleration in explosive reconnection events [Lyutikov et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 83(6), p. 635830601 (2017a); J. Plasma Phys., vol. 83(6), p. 635830602 (2017b)]. It is required that particles producing flares are accelerated in highly magnetised regions of the nebula. Flares originate from the poleward regions at the base of the Crab’s polar outflow, where both the magnetisation and the magnetic field strength are sufficiently high. The post-termination shock flow develops macroscopic (not related to the plasma properties on the skin-depth scale) kink-type instabilities. The resulting large-scale magnetic stresses drive explosive reconnection events on the light-crossing time of the reconnection region. Flares are produced at the initial stage of the current sheet development, during the X-point collapse. The model has all the ingredients needed for Crab flares: natural formation of highly magnetised regions, explosive dynamics on the light travel time, development of high electric fields on macroscopic scales and acceleration of particles to energies well exceeding the average magnetic energy per particle.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) Cambridge University Press 2018. This article has been published in a revised form in Journal of Plasma Physics https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377818000168 . This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. |
Keywords: | magnetized plasmas, plasma nonlinear phenomena, space plasma physics |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Mathematics (Leeds) > Applied Mathematics (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) ST/K000853/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 30 May 2018 14:12 |
Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2018 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/S0022377818000168 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:131340 |