Revisiting first type self-similar solutions of explosions containing ultrarelativistic shocks

TL;DR

This paper reexamines the first type self-similar solutions for ultrarelativistic shocks in explosions, highlighting issues with particle number divergence for certain density profiles and proposing a new solution for those cases.

Contribution

It identifies the divergence of total particle number in existing solutions for certain density profiles and proposes a new approach based on particle number conservation.

Findings

Total particle number diverges when k>3

First type solutions are invalid for k>17/4 due to energy divergence

Proposed a new solution for k>3 based on particle conservation

Abstract

We revisit the first type self-similar solutions for ultrarelativistic shock waves produced by explosions propagating into cold external medium whose density profile decreases with radius as $\rho\propto r^{-k}$. The first type solutions proposed by Blandford and McKee (hearafter BM solution) conforms to the global conservation of energy and applies when $k<4$. They have been found to be invalid when $k>17/4$ because of the divergence of total energy contained in the shocked fluids. So far no attention has been paid to the particle number. We use the BM solution to calculate the total particle number traversed by the shock and find it diverges when $k>3$. This is inconsistent with the finite particles in the surrounding medium. We propose a possible solution when $k>3$ based on the conservation of particle number and discuss its implication for the second type solutions.