Curved Herbig-Haro Jets: Simulations and Experiments

TL;DR

This paper compares laboratory and astrophysical curved Herbig-Haro jets, demonstrating how internal shocks, flow break-up, and jet rotation influence jet stability and morphology without requiring jet variability.

Contribution

It provides new simulations and experimental results showing the formation of shocks and flow features in curved jets, highlighting the effects of jet rotation and flow instabilities.

Findings

Internal shocks form in curved jets without jet variability.

Jet rotation reduces Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth.

Laboratory results mirror astrophysical jet behaviors.

Abstract

Herbig-Haro jets often show some degree of curvature along their path, in many cases produced by the ram pressure of a side-wind. We present simulations of both laboratory and astrophysical curved jets and experimental results from laboratory experiments. We discuss the properties and similarities of the laboratory and astrophysical flow, which show the formation of internal shocks and working surfaces. In particular the results illustrate how the break-up of the bow-shock and clumps in the flow are produced without invoking jet variability; we also discuss how jet rotation reduces the growth of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in curved jets.