First- and second-order Fermi acceleration in thick relativistic shocks

Shocks in relativistic jets are regions where cosmic ray acceleration takes place mainly via two kinds of Fermi acceleration mechanism: The first-order and the second-order Fermi acceleration. Moreover, the back-reaction of accelerated particles in astrophysical shock fronts leads to the formation of a precursor (thick) shock with a length scale which can correspond to the diffusive scale of the energetic particles. Our scope here is to investigate the properties of particle shock acceleration, using test-particle simulation studies, assuming stochastic and diffusive acceleration mechanisms, in thick parallel and perpendicular relativistic shocks. The role of the above parameters in the acceleration efficiency and generated cosmic ray spectra, is important to understanding further the favourable subject of the cosmic ray shock acceleration in relativistic astrophysical environments.