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Turbulence-level dependence of cosmic ray parallel diffusion

Author
Abstract

Understanding the transport of energetic cosmic rays belongs to the most challenging topics in astrophysics. Diffusion due to scattering by electromagnetic fluctuations is a key process in cosmic ray transport. The transition from a ballistic to a diffusive-propagation regime is presented in direct numerical calculations of diffusion coefficients for homogeneous magnetic field lines subject to turbulent perturbations. Simulation results are compared with theoretical derivations of the parallel diffusion coefficient’s dependences on the energy and the fluctuation amplitudes in the limit of weak turbulence. The present study shows that the widely used extrapolation of the energy scaling for the parallel diffusion coefficient to high turbulence levels predicted by quasi-linear theory does not provide a universally accurate description in the resonant-scattering regime. It is highlighted here that the numerically calculated diffusion coefficients can be polluted for low energies due to missing resonant interaction possibilities of the particles with the turbulence. Five reduced-rigidity regimes are established, which are separated by analytical boundaries derived in this work. Consequently, a proper description of cosmic ray propagation can only be achieved by using a turbulence-level-dependent diffusion coefficient and can contribute to solving the Galactic cosmic ray gradient problem.

Year of Publication
2020
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
498
Issue
4
Number of Pages
5051-5064
Date Published
11/2020
ISBN Number
0035-8711
URL
https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.07528
DOI
10.1093/mnras/staa2533
PId
7be9039505cf63228c78a513fe8fe834
Alternate Journal
Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc.
Label
OA
Journal Article
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