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dHybridR: A Hybrid Particle-in-cell Code Including Relativistic Ion Dynamics
Journal article   Peer reviewed

dHybridR: A Hybrid Particle-in-cell Code Including Relativistic Ion Dynamics

Colby C. Haggerty and Damiano Caprioli
The Astrophysical journal, Vol.887(2), p.165
12/20/2019
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ab58c8
url
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab58c8View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We present the first plasma simulations obtained with the code dHybridR, a hybrid particle-in-cell code with fluid electrons and both thermal and energetic ions that retain relativistic dynamics. dHybridR is constructed to study astrophysical and space-physics problems where a few energetic nonthermal particles (i.e., cosmic rays, CRs) affect the overall dynamics of a nonrelativistic plasma, such as CR-driven instabilities, collisionless shocks, magnetic reconnection, turbulence, etc. In this method paper we provide some applications to linear (resonant/nonresonant CR streaming instability) and strongly nonlinear (parallel shocks) problems that show the capabilities of the code. In particular, we provide the first self-consistent hybrid runs that show the acceleration of relativistic ions at nonrelativistic shocks; CRs develop a power law in momentum, which translates into a broken power law in energy that exhibits a steepening around the ion rest mass, as predicted by the theory of diffusive shock acceleration. We present examples of 2D dHybridR runs relevant for fast shocks in radio supernovae, whose evolution can be followed in real time, and 3D runs of low-Mach-number heliospheric shocks, which can be compared with in situ spacecraft observations.
 Cosmic rays Galactic cosmic rays Magnetohydrodynamical simulations Plasma astrophysics Plasma physics Shocks Space plasmas

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