Microscopic processes in global relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields: Dependence on jet radius

DOI: 
10.3390/galaxies5040058
Publication date: 
23/10/2017
Main author: 
Nishikawa K.-I.
IAA authors: 
Gómez, J.L.
Authors: 
Nishikawa K.-I., Mizuno Y., Gómez J.L., Duţan I., Meli A., White C., Niemiec J., Kobzar O., Pohl M., Pe'er A., Frederiksen J.T., Nordlund Å., Sol H., Hardee P.E., Hartmann D.H.
Journal: 
Galaxies
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
5
Number: 
58
Abstract: 
In this study, we investigate the interaction of jets with their environment at a microscopic level, which is a key open question in the study of relativistic jets. Using small simulation systems during past research, we initially studied the evolution of both electron-proton and electron-positron relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, by focusing on their interactions with an ambient plasma. Here, using larger jet radii, we have performed simulations of global jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities, such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the mushroom instability (MI). We found that the evolution of global jets strongly depends on the size of the jet radius. For example, phase bunching of jet electrons, in particular in the electron-proton jet, is mixed with a larger jet radius as a result of the more complicated structures of magnetic fields with excited kinetic instabilities. In our simulation, these kinetic instabilities led to new types of instabilities in global jets. In the electron-proton jet simulation, a modified recollimation occurred, and jet electrons were strongly perturbed. In the electron-positron jet simulation, mixed kinetic instabilities occurred early, followed by a turbulence-like structure. Simulations using much larger (and longer) systems are required in order to further thoroughly investigate the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields. © 2017 by the author.
Database: 
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030856847&doi=10.3390%2fgalaxies5040058&partnerID=40&md5=81f3520d7987a3cb15f26aa9fb26735c
Keywords: 
Global jets; Helical magnetic fields; Kinetic instabilities; Kink-like instability; Particle-in-cell simulations; Polarized radiation; Recollimation shocks; Relativistic jets