On The Nonthermal Power Laws In Magnetized Turbulent Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper derives and validates a scaling law for nonthermal spectral tails in magnetized turbulent plasmas, with implications for astrophysical particle acceleration and neutrino emission.

Contribution

It introduces a new scaling law for nonthermal tails in turbulent plasmas and validates it through particle-in-cell simulations including particle escape.

Findings

Simulation results agree with theoretical predictions.

Scaling law describes formation of nonthermal spectral tails.

Implications for proton acceleration in black hole coronae.

Abstract

Building on recent progress in the understanding of particle transport in magnetized plasmas, we derive a scaling law for the formation of nonthermal spectral tails in mildly and strongly magnetized turbulent environments. We validate this scaling using driven-turbulence particle-in-cell simulations that incorporate particle escape, allowing the system to reach a steady state. The simulation results show good agreement with our theoretical predictions. We then discuss the astrophysical implications of these findings, focusing on proton acceleration in the coronae of supermassive black holes and the resulting high-energy neutrino emission.