On the dynamic efficiency of internal shocks in magnetized relativistic outflows

Understand

We study the dynamic efficiency of conversion of kinetic-to-thermal/magnetic energy of internal shocks in relativistic magnetized outflows.

• We model internal shocks as being caused by collisions of shells of plasma with the same energy flux and a non-zero relative velocity.
• The contact surface, where the interaction between the shells takes place, can break up either into two oppositely moving shocks (in the frame where the contact surface is at rest), or into a reverse shock and a forward rarefaction.
• We find that for moderately magnetized shocks (magnetization $\sigma\simeq 0.1$), the dynamic efficiency in a single two-shell interaction can be as large as 40%.