Asymmetric diffusion of cosmic rays

View/ Open
Issue Date
2015-08-26Author
Medvedev, Mikhail V.
Medvedev, Viktor V.
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Rights
The following article appeared in Physics of Plasmas and may be found at dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4928942
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Cosmic ray propagation is diffusive because of pitch angle scattering by waves. We demonstrate
that if the high-amplitude magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with ~ B=hBi 1 is present on top of the
mean field gradient, the diffusion becomes asymmetric. As an example, we consider the vertical
transport of cosmic rays in our Galaxy propagating away from a point-like source. We solve this diffusion
problem analytically using a one-dimensional Markov chain analysis. We obtained that the
cosmic ray density markedly differs from the standard diffusion prediction and has a sizable effect
on their distribution throughout the galaxy. The equation for the continuous limit is also derived,
which shows limitations of the convection-diffusion equation.
Collections
Citation
Medvedev, M. V., & Medvedev, V. V. (2015). Asymmetric diffusion of cosmic rays. Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 22(9), 091504.
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.