Energetic Particle Acceleration in Shearing Flows

Abstract

Abstract Shear flows are ubiquitously present in space and astrophysical plasmas, and are known to be conducive to the acceleration of energetic charged particles. In particular, for relativistic flow speeds, efficient Fermi-type particle acceleration can be achieved, capable of producing momentum power-law particle distributions and sustaining energetic particles all along the shear. This paper reviews some of the key results concerning the stochastic acceleration of energetic particles in gradual shear flows and reports on some recent developments in the field.