Abstract
Relativistic magnetized shocks are a natural source of coherent emission, offering a plausible radiative mechanism for fast radio bursts (FRBs). We present first-principles 3D simulations that provide essential information for the FRB models based on shocks: the emission efficiency, spectrum, and polarization. The simulated shock propagates in an plasma with magnetization . The measured fraction of shock energy converted to coherent radiation is , and the energy-carrying wave number of the wave spectrum is , where is the upstream gyrofrequency. The ratio of the -mode and -mode energy fluxes emitted by the shock is . The dominance of the mode at is particularly strong, approaching 100% in the spectral band around . We also provide a detailed description of the emission mechanism for both and modes.
- Received 28 April 2021
- Revised 5 June 2021
- Accepted 11 June 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.035101
© 2021 American Physical Society