Whence particle acceleration

TL;DR

This paper explores how electrons in relativistic gamma-ray burst shocks can achieve near-equipartition energy levels with protons through non-Fermi acceleration mechanisms, emphasizing the role of shock dynamics and PIC simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a non-Fermi acceleration process for electrons in GRB shocks and highlights the importance of shock dynamics and PIC simulations in understanding this physics.

Findings

Electrons can reach near-equipartition energy with protons in GRB shocks.

Non-Fermi acceleration mechanisms are significant in electron energization.

PIC simulations effectively probe shock physics relevant to GRBs.

Abstract

We discuss how the electrons in relativistic GRB shocks can reach near-equipartition in energy with the protons. We emphasize the non-Fermi origin of such acceleration. We argue that the dynamics of the electrons in the foreshock region and at the shock front plays an important role. We also demonstrate that PIC simulations can directly probe this physics in the regimes relevant to GRBs.