Anisotropy and energy distribution of leptons and photons in radiative relativistic Alfvénic turbulence

Abstract

The anisotropic evolution of relativistic particles in magnetically dominated Alfvénic turbulence is a fundamental process governing nonthermal emissions in high-energy astrophysical environments. In this work, we develop a theoretical framework by deriving scaling equations that characterize the pitch-angle dynamics of leptons and photons across both weak- and strong-radiative cooling regimes. Our model reveals a universal coupling between particle energy and angular distribution, arising from the interplay of field-aligned accelerations, perpendicular drift motions, and radiation reactions. The model can uniquely identify ``turning-point energies" that exhibit a nonlinear dependence on the local magnetic field and the energy-injection scale. The validity of this scaling model is confirmed through radiative particle-in-cell simulations. We show that the electron pitch-angle distribution fundamentally dictates photon emission characteristics, further revealing a pronounced statistical correlation between high-energy photon emission and turbulent vortices in the reconnection regions. By bridging the gap between small-scale kinetic interactions and broad-band spectral characteristics, this work provides a quantitative basis for interpreting the hardening of radiation spectra and complex polarization signatures in sources such as pulsar wind nebulae and gamma-ray bursts.

Published in Physical Review D

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