The proton distribution function in weakly magnetized turbulent plasmas

Authors
Gruzinov, A Quataert, E
Citation
A. Gruzinov et E. Quataert, The proton distribution function in weakly magnetized turbulent plasmas, ASTROPHYS J, 520(2), 1999, pp. 849-852
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004637X → ACNP
Volume
520
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Part
1
Pages
849 - 852
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(19990801)520:2<849:TPDFIW>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
We calculate the proton distribution function due to heating by subsonic, A lfvenic turbulence in a weakly magnetized collisionless plasma. The distrib ution function is nonthermal. For nonrelativistic energies it is an exponen tial of the magnitude of the proton velocity. For ultrarelativistic energie s, it can be characterized as a power law with a momentum-dependent slope. We briefly discuss the implications of this work for gamma-ray emission (vi a pion decay) from hot accretion flows.