On the interaction of jets with stellar winds in XRBs

TL;DR

This study uses 3D simulations to explore how microquasar jets interact with stellar winds in X-ray binary systems, revealing conditions for jet survival and potential high-energy emission sites.

Contribution

First 3D simulations of jet evolution within binary systems, analyzing jet-wind interactions and conditions for jet escape and high-energy emission.

Findings

Jets need power of ~10^{37} erg/s to escape disruption.

Jet-wind interactions create potential high-energy emission regions.

Some X-ray binaries may be radio-quiet due to jet disruption.

Abstract

We present the first three-dimensional simulations of the evolution of a microquasar jet inside the binary-star system. The aim is to study the interaction of these jets with the stellar wind from a massive companion and the possible locations of high-energy emission sites. We have simulated two jets with different injection power in order to give a hint on the minimum power required for the jet to escape the system and become visible in larger scales. In the setup, we include a massive star wind filling the grid through which the jet evolves. We show that jets should have powers of the order of $10^{37}\rm{erg/s}$ or more in order not to be destroyed by the stellar wind. The jet-wind interaction results in regions in which high energy emission could be produced. These results imply the possible existence of a population of X-ray binaries not detected in the radio band due to jet disruption inside the region dominated by the stellar wind.