Coherent Electromagnetic Emission from Relativistic Magnetized Shocks

TL;DR

This paper uses 3D simulations to explore how relativistic magnetized shocks can produce coherent electromagnetic emission, shedding light on potential mechanisms behind Fast Radio Bursts.

Contribution

First-principles 3D simulations revealing emission efficiency, spectrum, and polarization from relativistic shocks in magnetized plasmas, relevant for FRB models.

Findings

Shock converts about 0.1% of energy to coherent radiation at high magnetization.

Wave spectrum peaks near 4 times the upstream gyrofrequency.

X-mode emission dominates at high magnetization, approaching 100% in certain spectral bands.

Abstract

Relativistic magnetized shocks are a natural source of coherent emission, offering a plausible radiative mechanism for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). We present first-principles 3D simulations that provide essential information for the FRB models based on shocks: the emission efficiency, spectrum, and polarization. The simulated shock propagates in an $e^\pm$ plasma with magnetization $\sigma>1$. The measured fraction of shock energy converted to coherent radiation is $\simeq 10^{-3} \, \sigma^{-1}$, and the energy-carrying wavenumber of the wave spectrum is $\simeq 4 \,\omega_{\rm c}/c$, where $\omega_{\rm c}$ is the upstream gyrofrequency. The ratio of the O-mode and X-mode energy fluxes emitted by the shock is $\simeq 0.4\,\sigma^{-1}$. The dominance of the X-mode at $\sigma\gg 1$ is particularly strong, approaching 100% in the spectral band around $2\,\omega_{\rm c}$. We also provide a detailed description of the emission mechanism for both X- and O-modes.