Fermi-type acceleration of interstellar ions driven by high-energy lepton plasma flows

(Nanowerk News) Stochastic acceleration and shock acceleration are well recognized as key mechanisms for cosmic ray generation since first proposed by Fermi. So far, these two mechanisms have been investigated widely by analytical models and numerical simulations, but often modeled separately.
In a recent paper published in Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy ("Two-stage acceleration of interstellar ions driven by high-energy lepton plasma flows"), it is found that the two mechanisms can occur naturally in sequential two stages when a lepton flow propagates in a background interstellar plasma.
snapshot of plasma turbulence and ion acceleration
This is a snapshot of plasma turbulence and ion acceleration at the first stage. (© Science China Press)
Even though, many theory models have been proposed for stochastic acceleration and shock acceleration to develop, but practically it is very difficult to verify these models based upon current astronomical observations. In the last decade, there is increasing interest to test some theory models in laboratory, which has brought about a new field called laboratory astrophysics.
In particular, the development of high power laser technologies enables one to create a variety of unique conditions to mimic some astrophysical processes in much reduced temporal and spatial scales. For example, some recent studies suggest that a lepton flow composed of dense electron and positron beams may be generated from relativistic laser-plasma interaction. Electron-positron jets are found widely in astrophysical environments such as quasars, black holes.
In their work, Cui et al. found that an electron-positron jet can drive a type of beam-plasma instabilities called the Weibel instability when it transports through a background plasma composed of electrons and ions. Strong electromagnetic turbulences develop as a result of the Weibel instability, which can accelerate background ions effectively. The accelerated ions form a perfect inverse-power energy spectrum as expected for Fermi II type acceleration. After certain interaction period, the electron-positron jet further drives a collisionless shock wave in the second stage. Some ions can be trapped and accelerated further.
This is the first time that the two acceleration mechanisms for energetic ions are illustrated clearly in a simple interaction configuration.
According to Prof. Z.M. Sheng, the corresponding author of this article from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and University of Strathclyde, the acceleration scenario found from their numerical simulations could be tested in the near future given the fact that high current electron-positron beams have been demonstrated recently in some laser-plasma experiments with high power lasers.
Three years ago, Prof. Sheng and his collaborator Prof. G. R. Kumar from Tata Institute for Fundamental Research in India first reported the measurement of the turbulent magnetic field structures generated via the Weibel instability when a dense electron beam transports through a metal [PNAS 109, 8011-8015 (2012)]. Detection of ion acceleration from Fermi acceleration in laboratory would be extremely interesting and is highly valuable to our understanding of the origin of cosmic-rays, according to Prof. Kumar.
When commenting on this work, Prof. J. Zhang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who is one of the pioneers in promoting laboratory astrophysics in China, pointed out that this work not only revealed very important new physics related to beam transport and Fermi acceleration, but also suggested the great potential of laboratory astrophysics for scientific discoveries.
Source: Science China Press