Collisionless Shocks -- Magnetic Field Generation and Particle Acceleration

Abstract

We present numerical results from plasma particle simulations of collisionless shocks and ultra-relativistic counter-streaming plasmas. We demonstrate how the field-particle interactions lead to particle acceleration behind the shock-front. Further, we demonstrate how ultra relativistic counter-streaming plasmas create large scale patchy magnetic field structures and that these field structures propagate down-stream of the shock front. These results may help explain the origin of the magnetic fields and accelerated electrons responsible for afterglow synchrotron radiation from gamma ray bursts.