Cosmic-ray pitch-angle scattering in imbalanced mhd turbulence simulations

M.S. Weidl, F. Jenko, B. Teaca, R. Schlickeiser

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    14 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    Pitch-angle scattering rates for cosmic-ray particles in MHD simulations with imbalanced turbulence are calculated for fully evolving electromagnetic turbulence. We compare with theoretical predictions derived from the quasilinear theory of cosmic-ray diffusion for an idealized slab spectrum and demonstrate how cross helicity affects the shape of the pitch-angle diffusion coefficient. Additional simulations in evolving magnetic fields or static field configurations provide evidence that the scattering anisotropy in imbalanced turbulence is not primarily due to coherence with propagating Alfvén waves, but an effect of the spatial structure of electric fields in cross-helical MHD turbulence.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number8
    JournalAstrophysical Journal
    Volume811
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2015

    Keywords

    • cosmic rays
    • diffusion
    • magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
    • scattering

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