Coherent Electromagnetic Emission from Relativistic Magnetized Shocks

Lorenzo Sironi, Illya Plotnikov, Joonas Nättilä, and Andrei M. Beloborodov
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 035101 – Published 13 July 2021
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Relativistic magnetized shocks are a natural source of coherent emission, offering a plausible radiative mechanism for fast radio bursts (FRBs). We present first-principles 3D simulations that provide essential information for the FRB models based on shocks: the emission efficiency, spectrum, and polarization. The simulated shock propagates in an e± plasma with magnetization σ>1. The measured fraction of shock energy converted to coherent radiation is 103σ1, and the energy-carrying wave number of the wave spectrum is 4ωc/c, where ωc is the upstream gyrofrequency. The ratio of the O-mode and X-mode energy fluxes emitted by the shock is 0.4σ1. The dominance of the X mode at σ1 is particularly strong, approaching 100% in the spectral band around 2ωc. We also provide a detailed description of the emission mechanism for both X and O modes.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 28 April 2021
  • Revised 5 June 2021
  • Accepted 11 June 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.035101

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics

Authors & Affiliations

Lorenzo Sironi*

  • Department of Astronomy and Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA

Illya Plotnikov

  • IRAP, Université de Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier, OMP, Toulouse 31400, France

Joonas Nättilä

  • Physics Department and Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, 538 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, USA and Center for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute, 162 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, USA

Andrei M. Beloborodov

  • Physics Department and Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, 538 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, USA and Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany

  • *lsironi@astro.columbia.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 127, Iss. 3 — 16 July 2021

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×