Parametric resonant acceleration of particles by gravitational waves

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gravitational waves can resonantly accelerate charged particles in space, revealing multiple resonance conditions influenced by wave amplitude and plasma energy density, with implications for particle energization and wave damping.

Contribution

It introduces a parametric resonance framework for particle-wave interactions in gravitational wave environments, highlighting multiple secondary resonances and their effects.

Findings

Multiple secondary resonances exist beyond the main resonance.

Particle energization depends on wave amplitude and plasma energy density.

Wave damping occurs due to particle acceleration.

Abstract

We study the resonant interaction of charged particles with a gravitational wave propagating in the non-empty interstellar space in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. It is found that this interaction can be cast in the form of a parametric resonance problem which, besides the main resonance, allows for the existence of many secondary ones. Each of them is associated with a non-zero resonant width, depending on the amplitude of the wave and the energy density of the interstellar plasma. Numerical estimates of the particles' energisation and the ensuing damping of the wave are given.