Modelling of electron acceleration in relativistic supernovae

Radio and X-ray observations revealed a rare but a very interesting class of supernovae (SNe) with a sizeable fraction of the kinetic energy of ejecta moving with a trans-relativistic speed. These relativistic SNe are comprising a population of the objects intermediate between the numerous core collapse SNe expanding with non-relativistic velocities and the gamma-ray bursts with highly relativistic ejecta. An interpretation of the observed non-thermal emission from relativistic SNe requires a model of electron acceleration in trans-relativistic shocks. In this paper we present numerical Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation of electron spectra in trans-relativistic shock waves propagating in clumped stellar winds of the SN progenitors. It is shown here that the presence of background magnetic fluctuations has a drastical effect on the electron acceleration by the trans-relativistic shocks propagating transverse to the regular magnetic field in the clumped wind of a massive progenitor star.