Recent Advances in Understanding Particle Acceleration Processes in Solar Flares

We review basic theoretical concepts in particle acceleration, with particular emphasis on processes likely to occur in regions of magnetic reconnection. Several new developments are discussed, including detailed studies of reconnection in three-dimensional magnetic field configurations (e.g., current sheets, collapsing traps, separatrix regions) and stochastic acceleration in a turbulent environment. Fluid, test-particle, and particle-in-cell approaches are used and results compared. While these studies show considerable promise in accounting for the various observational manifestations of solar flares, they are limited by a number of factors, mostly relating to available computational power. Not the least of these issues is the need to explicitly incorporate the electrodynamic feedback of the accelerated particles themselves on the environment in which they are accelerated. A brief prognosis for future advancement is offered.Comment: This is a chapter in a monograph on the physics of solar flares, inspired by RHESSI observations. The individual articles are to appear in Space Science Reviews (2011

High Energy Processes in Pulsar Wind Nebulae

Young pulsars produce relativistic winds which interact with matter ejected during the supernova explosion and the surrounding interstellar gas. Particles are accelerated to very high energies somewhere in the pulsar winds or at the shocks produced in collisions of the winds with the surrounding medium. As a result of interactions of relativistic leptons with the magnetic field and low energy radiation (of synchrotron origin, thermal, or microwave background), the non-thermal radiation is produced with the lowest possible energies up to $\sim$100 TeV. The high energy (TeV) gamma-ray emission has been originally observed from the Crab Nebula and recently from several other objects. Recent observations by the HESS Cherenkov telescopes allow to study for the first time morphology of the sources of high energy emission, showing unexpected spectral features. They might be also interpreted as due to acceleration of hadrons. However, theory of particle acceleration in the PWNe and models for production of radiation are still at their early stage of development since it becomes clear that realistic modeling of these objects should include their time evolution and three-dimensional geometry. In this paper we concentrate on the attempts to create a model for the high energy processes inside the PWNe which includes existence not only relativistic leptons but also hadrons inside the nebula. Such model should also take into account evolution of the nebula in time. Possible high energy expectations based on such a model are discussed in the context of new observations.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, Proc. Multimessenger approach to high energy gamma-ray source

Particle acceleration mechanisms

We review the possible mechanisms for production of non-thermal electrons which are responsible for non-thermal radiation in clusters of galaxies. Our primary focus is on non-thermal Bremsstrahlung and inverse Compton scattering, that produce hard X-ray emission. We briefly review acceleration mechanisms and point out that in most astrophysical situations, and in particular for the intracluster medium, shocks, turbulence and plasma waves play a crucial role. We consider two scenarios for production of non-thermal radiation. The first is hard X-ray emission due to non-thermal Bremsstrahlung by nonrelativistic particles. Non-thermal tails are produced by accelerating electrons from the background plasma with an initial Maxwellian distribution. However, these tails are accompanied by significant heating and they are present for a short time of <10^6 yr, which is also the time that the tail will be thermalised. Such non-thermal tails, even if possible, can only explain the hard X-ray but not the radio emission which needs GeV or higher energy electrons. For these and for production of hard X-rays by the inverse Compton model, we need the second scenario where there is injection and subsequent acceleration of relativistic electrons. It is shown that a steady state situation, for example arising from secondary electrons produced from cosmic ray proton scattering by background protons, will most likely lead to flatter than required electron spectra or it requires a short escape time of the electrons from the cluster. An episodic injection of relativistic electrons, presumably from galaxies or AGN, and/or episodic generation of turbulence and shocks by mergers can result in an electron spectrum consistent with observations but for only a short period of less than one billion years.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews, special issue "Clusters of galaxies: beyond the thermal view", Editor J.S. Kaastra, Chapter 11; work done by an international team at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, organised by J.S. Kaastra, A.M. Bykov, S. Schindler & J.A.M. Bleeke

Observation Of Very High Energy Cosmic-ray Families In Emulsion Chambers At High Mountain Altitudes (i)

Characteristics of cosmic-ray hadronic interactions in the 1015 - 1017 eV range are studied by observing a total of 429 cosmic-ray families of visible energy greater than 100 TeV found in emulsion chamber experiments at high mountain altitudes, Chacaltaya (5200 m above sea level) and the Pamirs (4300 m above sea level). Extensive comparisons were made with simulated families based on models so far proposed, concentrating on the relation between the observed family flux and the behaviour of high-energy showers in the families, hadronic and electromagnetic components. It is concluded that there must be global change in characteristics of hadronic interactions at around 1016 eV deviating from thise known in the accelerator energy range, specially in the forwardmost angular region of the collision. A detailed study of a new shower phenomenon of small-pT particle emissions, pT being of the order of 10 MeV/c, is carried out and its relation to the origin of huge "halo" phenomena associated with extremely high energy families is discussed as one of the possibilities. General characteristics of such super-families are surveyed. © 1992.3702365431Borisov, (1981) Nucl. Phys., 191 BBaybrina, (1984) Trudy FIAN 154, p. 1. , [in Russian], Nauka, MoscowLattes, Hadronic interactions of high energy cosmic-ray observed by emulsion chambers (1980) Physics Reports, 65, p. 151Hasegawa, ICR-Report-151-87-5 (1987) presented at FNAL CDF Seminar, , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoCHACALTAYA Emulsion Chamber Experiment (1971) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 47, p. 1Yamashita, Ohsawa, Chinellato, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 30. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo(1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 1. , Tokyo, 1984Baradzei, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 136. , Tokyo, 1984Yamashita, (1985) J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 54, p. 529Bolisov, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic rays and Particle Physics, p. 248. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoTamada, Tomaszewski, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 324. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo, PolandHasegawa, (1989) ICR-Report-197-89-14, , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoCHACALTAYA Emulsion Chamber Experiment (1971) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 47, p. 1Okamoto, Shibata, (1987) Nucl. Instrum. Methods, 257 A, p. 155Zhdanov, (1980) FIAN preprint no. 45, , Lebedev Physical Institute, MoscowSemba, Gross Features of Nuclear Interactions around 1015eV through Observation of Gamma Ray Families (1983) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 76, p. 111Nikolsky, (1975) Izv. Akad. Nauk. USSR Ser. Fis., 39, p. 1160Burner, Energy spectra of cosmic rays above 1 TeV per nucleon (1990) The Astrophysical Journal, 349, p. 25Takahashi, (1990) 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-ray Interactions, , Tarbes, FranceRen, (1988) Phys. Rev., 38 D, p. 1404Alner, The UA5 high energy simulation program (1987) Nuclear Physics B, 291 B, p. 445Bozzo, Measurement of the proton-antiproton total and elastic cross sections at the CERN SPS collider (1984) Physics Letters B, 147 B, p. 392Wrotniak, (1985) Proc. 19th Cosmic-Ray Conf. La Jolla, 1985, 6, p. 56. , NASA Conference Publication, Washington, D.CWrotniak, (1985) Proc. 19th Cosmic-Ray Conf. La Jolla, 1985, 6, p. 328. , NASA Conference Publication, Washington, D.CMukhamedshin, (1984) Trudy FIAN, 154, p. 142. , Nauka, Moscow, [in Russian]Dunaevsky, Pluta, Slavatinsky, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 143. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandKaidalov, Ter-Martirosyan, (1987) Proc. 20th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Moscow, 1987, 5, p. 141. , Nauka, MoscowShabelsky, (1985) preprints LNPI-1113Shabelsky, (1986) preprints LNPI-1224, , Leningrad [in Russian]Hillas, (1979) Proc. 16th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Kyoto, 6, p. 13. , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoBorisov, (1987) Phys. Lett., 190 B, p. 226Hasegawa, Tamada, (1990) 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, , Tarbes, FranceSemba, Gross Features of Nuclear Interactions around 1015eV through Observation of Gamma Ray Families (1983) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, p. 111Ren, (1988) Phys. Rev., 38 D, p. 1404Dynaevsky, Zimin, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interaction, p. 93. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandDynaevsky, (1990) Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, , Tarbes, France(1989) FIAN preprint no. 208, , Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow(1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 8, p. 259. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, AustraliaHasegawa, (1990) ICR-Report-216-90-9, , Inst. for Cosmic-Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoTamada, (1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, AustraliaTamada, (1990) ICR-Report-216-90-9(1981) Proc. 17th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Paris, 5, p. 291(1990) Proc. Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8, p. 267. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, Australia(1989) Inst. Nucl. Phys. 89-67/144, , preprint, Inst. Nucl. Phys., Moscow State UnivSmilnova, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Sym. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 42. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandGoulianos, (1986) Proc. Workshop of Particle Simulation at High Energies, , University of Wisconsin, Madison, USAIvanenko, (1983) Proc. 18th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Bangalore, 1983, 5, p. 274. , Tata Inst. Fundamental Research, Bombay, IndiaIvanenko, (1984) Proc. Int. Symp. on Cosmic-Rays and Particle Physics, p. 101. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo(1988) 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 180. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, Poland(1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8, p. 251. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, Australia(1991) Izv. AN USSR No. 4, , to be publishedNikolsky, Shaulov, Cherdyntseva, (1990) FIAN preprint no. 140, , Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow, [in Russian](1987) Proc. 20th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Moscow, 1987, 5, p. 326. , Nauka, Mosco

Observation Of A High-energy Cosmic-ray Family Caused By A Centauro-type Nuclear Interaction In The Joint Emulsion Chamber Experiment At The Pamirs

An exotic cosmic-ray family event is observed in the large emulsion chamber exposed by the joint at the Pamirs (4360 m above sea level). The family is composed of 120γ-ray-induced showers and 37 hadron-induced showers with individual visible energy exceeding 1 TeV. The decisive feature of the event is the hadron dominance: ΣEγ, ΣE(γ) h, 〈Eγ, 〈E(γ) h〉, 〈Eγ·Rγ〉 and 〈E(γ)·Rh〉 being 298 TeV, 476 TeV, 2.5 TeV, 12.9 TeV, 28.6 GeV m and 173 GeV m, respectively. Most probably the event is due to a Centauro interaction, which occured in the atmosphere at ∼700 m above the chamber. The event will constitute the second beautiful candidate for a Centauro observed at the Pamirs. © 1987.1901-2226233Bayburina, (1981) Nucl. Phys. B, 191, p. 1Lattes, Fujimoto, Hasegawa, Hadronic interactions of high energy cosmic-ray observed by emulsion chambers (1980) Physics Reports, 65, p. 151(1984) Trudy FIAN, 154, p. 1Borisov, (1984) Proc. Intern. Symp. on Cosmic rays and particle physics, p. 3. , TokyoRen, (1985) 19th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 317. , La JollaYamashita, (1985) 19th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 364. , La JollaTamada, (1977) Nuovo Cimento, 41 B, p. 245T. Shibata et al., to be publishedHillas, (1979) 16th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 13. , KyotoBattiston, Measurement of the proton-antiproton elastic and total cross section at a centre-of-mass energy of 540 GeV (1982) Physics Letters B, 117, p. 126UA5 Collab., G.J. Alner et al., preprint CERN-EP/85-62Taylor, (1976) Phys. Rev. D, 14, p. 1217Burnett, (1984) Proc. Intern. Symp. on Cosmic rays and particle physics, p. 468. , Toky

Nuclear Interactions Of Super High Energy Cosmic-rays Observed In Mountain Emulsion Chambers

Here we present a summary of joint discussions on the results of three mountain experiments with large-scale emulsion chambers, at Pamir, Mt. Fuji and Chacaltaya. Observations cover gamma quanta, hadrons and their clusters (called "families"). The following topics are covered, concerning the characteristics of nuclear interactions the energy region 1014-1016 eV: (i) rapid dissipation seen in atmospheric diffusion of high-energy cosmic-rays; (ii) multiplicity and Pt increase in produced pi-mesons in the fragmentation region; (iii) existence of large-Pt jets, (iv) extremely hadron-rich family of the Centauro type; (v) exotic phenomena in the extremely high energy region beyond 1016 eV. © 1981.1911125(1977) Acta Univ. Lodz ser. II, (60)(1973) 13th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 3, p. 2228(1975) 14th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., 7, p. 2365(1979) AIP Conf. Proc. no. 49, p. 334(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 6, p. 344(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 6816th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf. (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 284(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 294(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 87(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 92(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 98(1979) AIP Conf. Proc. no. 49, p. 94(1979) AIP Conf. Proc. no. 49, p. 145(1979) AIP Conf. Proc. no. 49, p. 317(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 6, p. 350(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 6, p. 356(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 6, p. 362Nikolsky, Proc. 9th Int. High-energy Symp. (1978) CSSR, 21. , ToborMiyake, (1978) Proc. 19th Int. Conf. on High-energy physics, p. 433Vernov, (1977) Physica, 3, p. 1601Khristiansen, (1978) JETP Lett., 28, p. 124(1973) 13th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 3, p. 2219Izv. Acad. Nauk USSR, ser Phys. (1974) Izv. Acad. Nauk USSR, ser Phys., 38, p. 918(1975) 14th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 2365(1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 68Dunaevsky, Urysson, Emelyanov, Shorin, Tashimov, (1975) FIAN preprint no. 150Dunaevsky, Urysson, Emelyanov, Shorin, Tashinov, (1979) Acta Univ. Lodz ser. II, (60), p. 199Ivanenko, Kanevskya, Roganova, (1978) JETP Lett., 40, p. 704Ivanenko, Kanevsky, Roganova, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 101Ivanenko, Kanevsky, Roganova, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 198Wrotniak, (1977) Acta Univ. Lodz ser. II, (60), p. 165Krys, Tomaszevski, Wrotniak, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 182Krys, Tomaszevski, Wrotniak, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 186Fomin, Kempa, Khristiansen, Levina, Piotrowska, Wdowczyk, (1977) 15th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 248Fomin, Kempa, Khristiansen, Levina, Piotrowska, Wdowczyk, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 82Azimov, Mullazhanov, Yuldashbayev, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 262Azimov, Mullazhanov, Yuldashbayev, (1977) Acta Univ. Lodz ser. II, (60), p. 275Kasahara, Torri, Yuda, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 70Kasahara, Torii, Yuda, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 13, p. 79Shibata, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 176H. Semba, T. Shibata and T. Tabuki, Suppl. Prog. Theor. Phys., to be publishedZhdanov, Roinishvilli, Smorodin, Tomaszevski, (1975) FIAN preprint no. 163Lattes, Fujimoto, Hasegawa, Hadronic interactions of high energy cosmic-ray observed by emulsion chambers (1980) Physics Reports, 65, p. 152Ellsworth, Gaisser, Yodh, (1981) Phys. Rev., 23 D, p. 764Baradzei, Smorodin, (1974) FIAN preprint nos. 103, 104Baradzei, Smorodin, (1977) Acta Univ. Lodz ser. II, (60), p. 51Zhdanov, (1980) FIAN preprint no. 140H. Semba, T. Shibata and T. Tabuki, Suppl. Prog. Theor. Phys., to be publishedShibata, (1980) Phys. Rev., 22 D, p. 100Slavatinsky, (1980) Proc. 7th European Symp. on Cosmic rays, , Leningrad, to be published(1979) AIP Conference Proc. no. 49, p. 145Azimov, Abduzhamilov, Chudakov, (1963) JETP (Sov. Phys.), 45, p. 40713th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf. (1973) 13th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 5, p. 326Acharya, Rao, Sivaprasad, Rao, (1979) 16th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 6, p. 289Ellsworth, Goodman, Yodh, Gaisser, Stanev, (1981) Phys. Rev., 23 D, p. 771Bariburina, Guseva, Denisova, (1980) Acta Univ. Lodz, 1, p. 9415th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf. (1977) 15th Int. Cosmic-ray Conf., 7, p. 184(1979) AIP Conf. Proc. no. 49, p. 33

Track A Basic Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138319/1/jia218438.pd

Pulsar Wind Nebulae with Bow Shocks: Non-thermal Radiation and Cosmic Ray Leptons

Pulsars with high spin-down power produce relativistic winds radiating a non-negligible fraction of this power over the whole electromagnetic range from radio to gamma-rays in the pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe). The rest of the power is dissipated in the interactions of the PWNe with the ambient interstellar medium (ISM). Some of the PWNe are moving relative to the ambient ISM with supersonic speeds producing bow shocks. In this case, the ultrarelativistic particles accelerated at the termination surface of the pulsar wind may undergo reacceleration in the converging flow system formed by the plasma outflowing from the wind termination shock and the plasma inflowing from the bow shock. The presence of magnetic perturbations in the flow, produced by instabilities induced by the accelerated particles themselves, is essential for the process to work. A generic outcome of this type of reacceleration is the creation of particle distributions with very hard spectra, such as are indeed required to explain the observed spectra of synchrotron radiation with photon indices Γ≲ 1.5. The presence of this hard spectral component is specific to PWNe with bow shocks (BSPWNe). The accelerated particles, mainly electrons and positrons, may end up containing a substantial fraction of the shock ram pressure. In addition, for typical ISM and pulsar parameters, the e+ released by these systems in the Galaxy are numerous enough to contribute a substantial fraction of the positrons detected as cosmic ray (CR) particles above few tens of GeV and up to several hundred GeV. The escape of ultrarelativistic particles from a BSPWN—and hence, its appearance in the far-UV and X-ray bands—is determined by the relative directions of the interstellar magnetic field, the velocity of the astrosphere and the pulsar rotation axis. In this respect we review the observed appearance and multiwavelength spectra of three different types of BSPWNe: PSR J0437-4715, the Guitar and Lighthouse nebulae, and Vela-like objects. We argue that high resolution imaging of such objects provides unique information both on pulsar winds and on the ISM. We discuss the interpretation of imaging observations in the context of the model outlined above and estimate the BSPWN contribution to the positron flux observed at the Earth