Topics in microphysics of relativistic plasmas

TL;DR

This review explores the complex physics of highly magnetized relativistic plasmas in astrophysics, focusing on magnetic reconnection, turbulence, and particle acceleration, with implications for phenomena like magnetar bursts and nebulae.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in understanding magnetic reconnection, turbulence, and particle acceleration in relativistic plasmas relevant to astrophysical contexts.

Findings

Magnetic reconnection plays a crucial role in high-energy astrophysical phenomena.

Turbulent cascades influence energy dissipation in relativistic plasmas.

Particle acceleration mechanisms are key to explaining observed high-energy emissions.

Abstract

Astrophysical plasmas can have parameters vastly different from the more studied laboratory and space plasmas. In particular, the magnetic fields can be the dominant component of the plasma, with energy-density exceeding the particle rest-mass energy density. Magnetic fields then determine the plasma dynamical evolution, energy dissipation and acceleration of non-thermal particles. Recent data coming from astrophysical high energy missions, like magnetar bursts and Crab nebula flares, point to the importance of magnetic reconnection in these objects. In this review we outline a broad spectrum of problems related to the astrophysical relevant processes in magnetically dominated relativistic plasmas. We discuss the problems of large scale dynamics of relativistic plasmas, relativistic reconnection and particle acceleration at reconnecting layers, turbulent cascade in force-fee plasmas. A number of astrophysical applications are also discussed.