253 research outputs found
Phase mixing in MOND
Dissipationless collapses in Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) have been
studied by using our MOND particle-mesh N-body code, finding that the projected
density profiles of the final virialized systems are well described by Sersic
profiles with index m<4 (down to m~2 for a deep-MOND collapse). The simulations
provided also strong evidence that phase mixing is much less effective in MOND
than in Newtonian gravity. Here we describe "ad hoc" numerical simulations with
the force angular components frozen to zero, thus producing radial collapses.
Our previous findings are confirmed, indicating that possible differences in
radial orbit instability under Newtonian and MOND gravity are not relevant in
the present context.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the
International Workshop "Collective Phenomena in Macroscopic Systems", G.
Bertin, R. Pozzoli, M. Rome, and K.R. Sreenivasan, eds., World Scientific,
Singapor
Galaxy merging in MOND
We present the results of N-body simulations of dissipationless galaxy
merging in Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). For comparison, we also studied
Newtonian merging between galaxies embedded in dark matter halos, with internal
dynamics equivalent to the MOND systems. We found that the merging timescales
are significantly longer in MOND than in Newtonian gravity with dark matter,
suggesting that observational evidence of rapid merging could be difficult to
explain in MOND. However, when two galaxies eventually merge, the MOND merging
end-product is hardly distinguishable from the final stellar distribution of an
equivalent Newtonian merger with dark matter.Comment: 5 pages, 2 color figures. To appear in MNRAS Letters. Added
references and discussion, conclusions unchange
Vertical dynamics of disk galaxies in MOND
We investigate the possibility of discriminating between Modified Newtonian
Dynamics (MOND) and Newtonian gravity with dark matter, by studying the
vertical dynamics of disk galaxies. We consider models with the same circular
velocity in the equatorial plane (purely baryonic disks in MOND and the same
disks in Newtonian gravity embedded in spherical dark matter haloes), and we
construct their intrinsic and projected kinematical fields by solving the Jeans
equations under the assumption of a two-integral distribution function. We
found that the vertical velocity dispersion of deep-MOND disks can be much
larger than in the equivalent spherical Newtonian models. However, in the more
realistic case of high-surface density disks this effect is significantly
reduced, casting doubts on the possibility of discriminating between MOND and
Newtonian gravity with dark matter by using current observations.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Added
referenc
ECHO: an Eulerian Conservative High Order scheme for general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics and magnetodynamics
We present a new numerical code, ECHO, based on an Eulerian Conservative High
Order scheme for time dependent three-dimensional general relativistic
magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) and magnetodynamics (GRMD). ECHO is aimed at
providing a shock-capturing conservative method able to work at an arbitrary
level of formal accuracy (for smooth flows), where the other existing GRMHD and
GRMD schemes yield an overall second order at most. Moreover, our goal is to
present a general framework, based on the 3+1 Eulerian formalism, allowing for
different sets of equations, different algorithms, and working in a generic
space-time metric, so that ECHO may be easily coupled to any solver for
Einstein's equations. Various high order reconstruction methods are implemented
and a two-wave approximate Riemann solver is used. The induction equation is
treated by adopting the Upwind Constrained Transport (UCT) procedures,
appropriate to preserve the divergence-free condition of the magnetic field in
shock-capturing methods. The limiting case of magnetodynamics (also known as
force-free degenerate electrodynamics) is implemented by simply replacing the
fluid velocity with the electromagnetic drift velocity and by neglecting the
matter contribution to the stress tensor. ECHO is particularly accurate,
efficient, versatile, and robust. It has been tested against several
astrophysical applications, including a novel test on the propagation of large
amplitude circularly polarized Alfven waves. In particular, we show that
reconstruction based on a Monotonicity Preserving filter applied to a fixed
5-point stencil gives highly accurate results for smooth solutions, both in
flat and curved metric (up to the nominal fifth order), while at the same time
providing sharp profiles in tests involving discontinuities.Comment: 20 pages, revised version submitted to A&
Three-dimensional evolution of magnetic and velocity shear driven instabilities in a compressible magnetized jet
The problem of three-dimensional combined magnetic and velocity shear driven
instabilities of a compressible magnetized jet modeled with a plane
neutral/current double vortex sheet in the framework of the resistive
magnetohydrodynamics is addressed. The resulting dynamics given by the
stream+current sheet interaction is analyzed and the effects of a variable
geometry of the basic fields are considered. Depending on the basic asymptotic
magnetic field configuration, a selection rule of the linear instability modes
can be obtained. Hence, the system follows a two-stage path developing either
through a fully three-dimensional dynamics with a rapid evolution of kink modes
leading to a final turbulent state, or rather through a driving two-dimensional
instability pattern that develops on parallel planes on which a
reconnection+coalescence process takes place.Comment: 33 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Physics of Plasma
Laser ion acceleration using a solid target coupled with a low density layer
We investigate by particle-in-cell simulations in two and three dimensions
the laser-plasma interaction and the proton acceleration in multilayer targets
where a low density "near-critical" layer of a few micron thickness is added on
the illuminated side of a thin, high density layer. This target design can be
obtained by depositing a "foam" layer on a thin metallic foil. The presence of
the near-critical plasma strongly increases both the conversion efficiency and
the energy of electrons and leads to enhanced acceleration of proton from a
rear side layer via the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration mechanism. The
electrons of the foam are strongly accelerated in the forward direction and
propagate on the rear side of the target building up a high electric field with
a relatively flat longitudinal profile. In these conditions the maximum proton
energy is up to three times higher than in the case of the bare solid target.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures. Submitted to Physical Review
Galactic fountains and gas accretion
Star-forming disc galaxies such as the Milky Way need to accrete \gsim 1
of gas each year to sustain their star formation. This gas
accretion is likely to come from the cooling of the hot corona, however it is
still not clear how this process can take place. We present simulations
supporting the idea that this cooling and the subsequent accretion are caused
by the passage of cold galactic-fountain clouds through the hot corona. The
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability strips gas from these clouds and the stripped gas
causes coronal gas to condense in the cloud's wake. For likely parameters of
the Galactic corona and of typical fountain clouds we obtain a global accretion
rate of the order of that required to feed the star formation.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in "Hunting for the Dark: The Hidden
Side of Galaxy Formation", Malta, 19-23 Oct. 2009, eds. V.P. Debattista &
C.C. Popescu, AIP Conf. Se
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