Particle acceleration at multiple internal relativistic shocks

Abstract

Relativistic shocks provide an efficient method for high-energy particle acceleration in many astrophysical sources. Multiple shock systems are even more effective and of importance, for example, in the internal shock model of gamma-ray bursts. We investigate the reacceleration of pre-existing energetic particles at such relativistic internal shocks by the first order Fermi process of pitch angle scattering. We use a well established eigenfunction method to calculate the resulting spectra for infinitely thin shocks. Implications for GRBs and relativistic jets are discussed.