Compton driven beam formation and magnetisation via plasma microinstabilities

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Compton scattering in pair plasmas can generate relativistic beams and magnetic fields, with potential implications for gamma-ray burst environments, through theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical and numerical study of beam formation and magnetization via plasma microinstabilities driven by Compton scattering.

Findings

Relativistic electron-positron beams can be formed by Compton scattering in pair plasmas.

Under certain conditions, the beam can trigger beam-plasma instabilities and generate magnetic energy.

Conditions for such processes are plausible at the photosphere of Gamma Ray Bursts.

Abstract

Compton scattering of gamma rays propagating in a pair plasma can drive the formation of a relativistic electron positron beam. This process is scrutinised theoretically and numerically via particle-in-cell simulations. In addition, we determine in which conditions the beam can prompt a beam-plasma instability and convert its kinetic energy into magnetic energy. We argue that such conditions can be met at the photosphere radius of bright Gamma Ray Bursts.