A current generation by Compton scattering in a relativistic plasma with velocity shear and temperature gradient

Current generation by Thomson scattering in a non-relativistic plasma (ksub(B)T/msub(e)C2 << 1) with the velocity shear and the temperature gradient (HINATA and DANESHVAR, 1983) is extended to a relativistic plasma (ksub(B)T > msub(e)c2) by replacing Thomson cross section by Klein-Nishina formula. Because of the energy dependence of the cross-section, a numerical rather than analytic result is presented. The present calculation may be applied to a supernova implosion where the temperature may reach several MeV and a strong differential rotation is expected. It may also find applications in the early universe, and laser-pellet interaction. (author)