Radiation-mediated shocks: kinetic processes and transition to collisionless shocks
arXiv:1812.09866 · doi:10.1134/S106377291812020X
Abstract
We analyze the main features of radiation-mediated shocks at arbitrary shock velocities, both non-relativistic and relativistic. We describe two mechanisms, which may lead to formation of a sharp viscous subshock within otherwise smooth velocity profile at the shock front, even if the radiation pressure in the upstream is overwhelmingly large. These mechanisms are specific to sub-relativistic and relativistic radiation-mediated shocks and set high-velocity shocks apart from their non-relativistic counterparts, which do not develop a subshock if the radiation pressure is high enough. We briefly discuss implications of this finding.
presented at The Third Zeldovich meeting, April 23-27, 2018, Minsk, Belarus