Plasma Instabilities of TeV Pair Beams Induced by Blazars

This thesis develops a new theory combining the beam-plasma instability and IGMF in one picture. Recently, it was observed that the expected cascade emission of gamma rays in the TeV range from some distant blazars is not seen in their spectra. The underlying physical processes are well known, and a failure of the model predictions would shake the foundations of modern physics unless a credible explanation for this failure is found. One could argue that a femto-Gauss strong magnetic field in the cosmic voids would disperse the cascade emission, although the question remains as to how this magnetic field was generated. Mahmoud Alawashra provides us with a carefully crafted assessment of a second possibility, namely, energy loss due to plasma instabilities in the cosmic voids. His first point is: what if there is a weak magnetic field? It might not dilute the cascade emission but suppress the beam-plasma instabilities, ruling out an intermediate range of magnetic field amplitudes where neither scenario works. Mahmoud's study is the first in the literature to combine instability and IGMF in one picture. Authors then investigated the nonlinear feedback of the instability and finds it in a quasi-steady state where the energy loss of the cascades is weak. The whole study is simply outstanding and combines analytical skills with numerical ability.

Nominated as an outstanding Ph.D. thesis by the University of Postdam Explores beam-plasma instability as an explanation for the missing cascade emission of gamma rays from Blazars Develops a new theory combining the beam-plasma instability and IGMF in one picture

Inhalt

Introduction.- Observational Context.- Exploring the Foundations of Beam-Plasma Instability.- IGMF impact on the Beam-Plasma Instability.- Fokker-Planck Diffusion Simulation of the Instability Feedback.- Conclusions and Outlook.