Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: We investigate the launching and stability of extragalactic jets through nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation and linear eigenmode analysis. In the simulations of jet evolution, a small-scale equilibrium magnetic arcade is twisted by a differentially rotating accretion disk. These simulations produce a collimated outflow which is unstable to the current driven m = 1 kink mode for low rotational velocities of the accretion disk relative to the Alfvén speed of the coronal plasma. The growth rate of the kink mode in the jet is shown to be inversely related to the rotation rate of the disk, and the jet is stable for high rotation rates. Linear MHD calculations investigate the effect of rigid rotation on the kink mode in a cylindrical plasma. These calculations show that the Coriolis force distorts the m = 1 kink eigenmode and stabilizes it at rotation frequencies such that the rotation period is longer than a few Alfvén times.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Authors: C. S. Carey, C. R. Sovinec
Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G1286236842, G1314282440, G1863003419, COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, G222768804, Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, G3083819904, G419881185, G4501827968, A GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND RELATED SCIENCES, G498139845, A GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND RELATED SCIENCES, G6652958823, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W1993260901