# Propagation of a Short GRB Jet in the Ejecta: Jet Launching Delay Time, Jet Structure, and GW170817/GRB 170817A

## TL;DR

This study uses relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations to explore how the delay in jet launching affects the structure of jets from neutron star mergers, with implications for interpreting GW170817/GRB 170817A.

## Contribution

It demonstrates that jet structure depends on launching delay time, providing insights into jet evolution and observable signatures in neutron star merger events.

## Key findings

- Structured jets form after breakout regardless of delay time.
- Longer delay times lead to cocoon-dominated line-of-sight emission.
- Shorter delay times produce jets with angular structure dominating the line-of-sight.

## Abstract

We perform a series of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations to investigate how a hot magnetic jet propagates within the dynamical ejecta of a binary neutron star merger, with the focus on how the jet structure depends on the delay time of jet launching with respect to the merger time, $\Delta t_{\rm jet}$. We find that regardless of the jet launching delay time, a structured jet with an angle-dependent luminosity and Lorentz factor is always formed after the jet breaks out the ejecta. On the other hand, the jet launching delay time has an impact on the jet structure. If the jet launching delay time is relatively long, e.g., $\ge 0.5$ s, the line-of-sight material has a dominant contribution from the cocoon. On the other hand, for a relatively short jet launching delay time, the jet penetrates through the ejecta early on and develops an angular structure afterward. The line-of-sight ejecta is dominated by the structured jet itself. We discuss the case of GW170817/GRB 170817A within the framework of both long and short $\Delta t_{\rm jet}$. Future more observations of GW/GRB associations can help to differentiate between these two scenarios.