Resonant energization of particles by radio AGN

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new particle acceleration mechanism via resonant interaction between electromagnetic waves and quantum particles near radio AGN, potentially explaining particles reaching ultra-high energies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel resonant energization process involving quantum waves and classical EM waves near radio AGN, demonstrating potential for ultra-high energy particle acceleration.

Findings

Particles can be accelerated to energies up to 10^{16-20} eV.

Resonant interaction causes the group velocity of quantum waves to approach the speed of light.

The mechanism is effective under typical parameters of radio AGN.

Abstract

A new mechanism of particle acceleration, based on the resonant interaction of a classical electromagnetic wave (EM) with a quantum wave (associated with a relativistic particle), is explored. In a model illustrative calculation, we study the fate of a Klein Gordon wave subjected to the intense radio frequency waves generated in the vicinity of an active galactic nuclei (AGN). In the framework of the paper we examine a quantum wave associated with a relativistic particle, and it is shown that the group velocity of the wave approaches the speed of light, implying that the particles resonantly exchange energy with EM waves, eventually leading to acceleration of particles to very high energies. For typical parameters of under accreting Eddington radio AGN, it is shown that the resonant energization could catapult particles to extreme energies $\sim 10^{16-20}$eV.