The proton distribution function in weakly magnetized turbulent plasmas

Andrei Gruzinov, Eliot Quataert

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We calculate the proton distribution function due to heating by subsonic, Alfvénic turbulence in a weakly magnetized collisionless plasma. The distribution function is nonthermal. For nonrelativistic energies it is an exponential of the magnitude of the proton velocity. For ultrarelativistic energies, 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 (via pion decay) from hot accretion flows.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)849-852
    Number of pages4
    JournalAstrophysical Journal
    Volume520
    Issue number2 PART 1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Aug 1 1999

    Keywords

    • MHD
    • Plasmas
    • Turbulence

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Space and Planetary Science

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