Two-dimensional full particle simulation of a perpendicular collisionless shock with a shock-rest-frame model

TL;DR

This paper develops a 2D particle simulation model to study perpendicular collisionless shocks, revealing that 2D effects suppress nonthermal electron acceleration seen in 1D models due to disturbed electrostatic structures.

Contribution

It introduces a 2D shock-rest-frame simulation model and demonstrates how dimensionality affects electron acceleration mechanisms in collisionless shocks.

Findings

Fewer nonthermal electrons in 2D due to disrupted surfing acceleration

2D effects hinder formation of electrostatic solitary structures

Electron acceleration mechanisms differ from 1D simulations

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2D) shock-rest-frame model for particle simulations is developed. Then full kinetic dynamics of a perpendicular collisionless shock is examined by means of a 2D full particle simulation. We found that in the 2D simulation there are fewer nonthermal electrons due to surfing acceleration which was seen in the previous 1D simulations of a high Mach number perpendicular shock in a low-beta and weakly magnetized plasma. This is because the particle motion along the ambient magnetic field disturbs the formation of coherent electrostatic solitary structures which is necessary for electron surfing acceleration.