Impulsive Electron Acceleration by Gravitational Waves

We investigate the non-linear interaction of a strong Gravitational Wave withthe plasma during the collapse of a massive magnetized star to form a blackhole, or during the merging of neutron star binaries (central engine). We foundthat under certain conditions this coupling may result in an efficient energyspace diffusion of particles. We suggest that the atmosphere created around thecentral engine is filled with 3-D magnetic neutral sheets (magnetic nulls). Wedemonstrate that the passage of strong pulses of Gravitational Waves throughthe magnetic neutral sheets accelerates electrons to very high energies.Superposition of many such short lived accelerators, embedded inside aturbulent plasma, may be the source for the observed impulsive short livedbursts. We conclude that in several astrophysical events, gravitational pulsesmay accelerate the tail of the ambient plasma to very high energies and becomethe driver for many types of astrophysical bursts.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, accepted to The Astrophysical Journa