47,369 research outputs found
Linear stability analysis of magnetized relativistic jets: the nonrotating case
We perform a linear analysis of the stability of a magnetized relativistic
non-rotating cylindrical flow in the aproximation of zero thermal pressure,
considering only the m = 1 mode. We find that there are two modes of
instability: Kelvin-Helmholtz and current driven. The Kelvin-Helmholtz mode is
found at low magnetizations and its growth rate depends very weakly on the
pitch parameter. The current driven modes are found at high magnetizations and
the value of the growth rate and the wavenumber of the maximum increase as we
decrease the pitch parameter. In the relativistic regime the current driven
mode is splitted in two branches, the branch at high wavenumbers is
characterized by the eigenfunction concentrated in the jet core, the branch at
low wavenumbers is instead characterized by the eigenfunction that extends
outside the jet velocity shear region.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures, MNRAS in pres
Innovative methods of correlation and orbit determination for space debris
We propose two algorithms to provide a full preliminary orbit of an
Earth-orbiting object with a number of observations lower than the classical
methods, such as those by Laplace and Gauss. The first one is the Virtual
debris algorithm, based upon the admissible region, that is the set of the
unknown quantities corresponding to possible orbits for objects in Earth orbit
(as opposed to both interplanetary orbits and ballistic ones). A similar method
has already been successfully used in recent years for the asteroidal case. The
second algorithm uses the integrals of the geocentric 2-body motion, which must
have the same values at the times of the different observations for a common
orbit to exist. We also discuss how to account for the perturbations of the
2-body motion, e.g., the effect.Comment: 18 page
Linear and nonlinear evolution of current-carrying highly magnetized jets
We investigate the linear and nonlinear evolution of current-carrying jets in
a periodic configuration by means of high resolution three-dimensional
numerical simulations. The jets under consideration are strongly magnetized
with a variable pitch profile and initially in equilibrium under the action of
a force-free magnetic field. The growth of current-driven (CDI) and
Kelvin-Helmholtz (KHI) instabilities is quantified using three selected cases
corresponding to static, Alfvenic and super-Alfvenic jets.
During the early stages, we observe large-scale helical deformations of the
jet corresponding to the growth of the initially excited CDI mode. A direct
comparison between our simulation results and the analytical growth rates
obtained from linear theory reveals good agreement on condition that
high-resolution and accurate discretization algorithms are employed.
After the initial linear phase, the jet structure is significantly altered
and, while slowly-moving jets show increasing helical deformations, larger
velocity shear are violently disrupted on a few Alfven crossing time leaving a
turbulent flow structure. Overall, kinetic and magnetic energies are quickly
dissipated into heat and during the saturated regime the jet momentum is
redistributed on a larger surface area with most of the jet mass travelling at
smaller velocities. The effectiveness of this process is regulated by the onset
of KHI instabilities taking place at the jet/ambient interface and can be held
responsible for vigorous jet braking and entrainment.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
Fully Convective Magnetorotational Turbulence in Stratified Shearing Boxes
We present a numerical study of turbulence and dynamo action in stratified
shearing boxes with zero magnetic flux. We assume that the fluid obeys the
perfect gas law and has finite (constant) thermal diffusivity. We choose
radiative boundary conditions at the vertical boundaries in which the heat flux
is propor- tional to the fourth power of the temperature. We compare the
results with the corresponding cases in which fixed temperature boundary
conditions are applied. The most notable result is that the formation of a
fully convective state in which the density is nearly constant as a function of
height and the heat is transported to the upper and lower boundaries by
overturning motions is robust and persists even in cases with radiative
boundary conditions. Interestingly, in the convective regime, although the
diffusive transport is negligible the mean stratification does not relax to an
adiabatic state.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
On the convergence of Magnetorotational turbulence in stratified isothermal shearing boxes
We consider the problem of convergence in stratified isothermal shearing
boxes with zero net magnetic flux. We present results with the highest
resolution to-date--up to 200 grid-point per pressure scale height--that show
no clear evidence of convergence. Rather, the Maxwell stresses continue to
decrease with increasing resolution. We propose some possible scenarios to
explain the lack of convergence based on multi-layer dynamo systems.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
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