Towards First-principle Characterization of Cosmic-ray Transport Coefficients from Multi-scale Kinetic Simulations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel simulation framework to measure cosmic-ray scattering rates from first principles, revealing scalings consistent with quasi-linear theory but with notable differences in normalization, advancing understanding of cosmic-ray transport.

Contribution

The study develops a 'streaming box' simulation framework using MHD-PIC to directly measure cosmic-ray scattering rates, addressing scale separation issues and improving upon quasi-linear theory estimates.

Findings

Measured scattering rates scale with environmental parameters.

Normalization of scattering rates is smaller than traditional estimates.

Momentum-dependent treatment shows deviations at small momenta.

Abstract

A major uncertainty in understanding the transport and feedback of cosmic-rays (CRs) within and beyond our Galaxy lies in the unknown CR scattering rates, which are primarily determined by wave-particle interaction at microscopic gyro-resonant scales. The source of the waves for the bulk CR population is believed to be self-driven by the CR streaming instability (CRSI), resulting from the streaming of CRs downward a CR pressure gradient. While a balance between driving by the CRSI and wave damping is expected to determine wave amplitudes and hence the CR scattering rates, the problem involves significant scale separation with substantial ambiguities based on quasi-linear theory (QLT). Here we propose a novel "streaming box" framework to study the CRSI with an imposed CR pressure gradient, enabling first-principle measurement of the CR scattering rates as a function of environmental parameters. By employing the magnetohydrodynamic-particle-in-cell (MHD-PIC) method with ion-neutral damping, we conduct a series of simulations with different resolutions and CR pressure gradients and precisely measure the resulting CR scattering rates in steady state. The measured rates show scalings consistent with QLT, but with a normalization smaller by a factor of several than typical estimates based on single-fluid treatment of CRs. A momentum-by-momentum treatment provides better estimates when integrated over momentum, but is also subject substantial deviations especially at small momentum. Our framework thus opens up the path towards providing comprehensive subgrid physics for macroscopic studies of CR transport and feedback in broad astrophysical contexts.