Magnetized Weibel filaments as a source of circularly polarized light

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate radiation spectra of plasma particles trapped in Weibel filaments generated from multidimensional particle in cell simulations with OSIRIS in magnetized and unmagnetized plasmas. We show that an important parameter determining polarization of emitted radiation is the magnetization of ambient media. Polarization of radiation emitted during counter-propagating plasma flows with different~magnetizations is explored by extracting trajectories of particles sampled from PIC simulations and computing their radiation spectrum. Particle trajectories in magnetized plasmas undergo EXB drift at Weibel boundaries leading to a preferential drift direction, whereas, in unmagnetized case the particles have no net drift. As a result, significant fraction of radiated energy from magnetized filament is circularly polarized (CP). Energy attributed to different polarizations is calculated by measuring degree of polarizations. With increasing magnetization, the fraction of radiated energy attributed to CP increases. The direction of circular polarization also changes with direction of applied magnetic field. The study is of significance for understanding radiation from Gamma Ray Bursts.

Authors

  • Ujjwal Sinha

    GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Joana Martins

    GoLP / IPFN, Instituto Superior Tecnico, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Jorge Vieira

    Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST), GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fus\~ao Nuclear - Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Lisbon, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Ricardo Fonseca

    DCTI/ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, DCTI/ISCTE Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal, DCTI/ISCTE - Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fus\~ao Nuclear - Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Lisbon, DCTI, ISCTE-Lisbon University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Luis Silva

    GoLP / IPFN, Instituto Superior Tecnico, GoLP/IPFN, Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, IST, GoLP/IPFN, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal, GoLP/IPFN, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fus\~ao Nuclear - Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Lisbon, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal