Fast Radio Bursts : constraining possible astrophysical scenarios from a particle acceleration model
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2020
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Abstract
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are bright millisecond-long radio flashes that imply strong electromagnetic waves in their vicinity. We analyzed the acceleration experienced by particles under such intense fields, and we obtained that they will quickly become relativistic and move in the direction of the incident wave. In this process, the particles periodically reach a high Lorentz factor, which remains valid up to the radial distance r_f \sim 3 \times 10^{10} {\rm cm} \, (m/m_p)^{-1} L_{42}^{1/2} \nu_9^{-1}. We analyzed the possible formation of a charge separation region due to the different r_f of protons and electrons, and then we argued about the possible disruption of the electron acceleration process at r> r_f. We also analyzed the incoherent and coherent radiation processes experienced by the accelerating particles and concluded that the coherent radiation can substantially disperse the energy of the incident wave if the emission mechanism of the FRB is activated at r < r_{f,p^+}. Based on this, our model disfavours mechanisms in which the FRB is emitted from within the magnetosphere of a NS or magnetar as a progenitor scenario. Although the model was applied to FRBs, it is applicable to other FRB-like phenomena. We propose to extend our analysis by self-consistently solving the Maxwell equations and the equations of motion for the plasma.
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Tesis (Magíster en Astrofísica)--Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2020