Simulations and Theory of Ion Injection at Non-relativistic Collisionless Shocks

Understand

We use kinetic hybrid simulations (kinetic ions - fluid electrons) to characterize the fraction of ions that are accelerated to non-thermal energies at non-relativistic collisionless shocks.

• We investigate the properties of the shock discontinuity and show that shocks propagating almost along the background magnetic field (quasi-parallel shocks) reform quasi-periodically on ion cyclotron scales.
• Ions that impinge on the shock when the discontinuity is the steepest are specularly reflected.
• This is a necessary condition for being injected, but it is not sufficient.