Propagation dynamics of successive emissions in laboratory and astrophysical jets and problem of their collimation

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to analyze how successive plasma emissions propagate in laboratory and astrophysical jets, highlighting the role of low-density regions in jet collimation, with results aligning with observations.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation-based analysis of plasma knot propagation in jets, emphasizing the impact of low-density regions on collimation, bridging laboratory and astrophysical contexts.

Findings

Low-density regions after initial knots aid in collimating subsequent emissions.

Qualitative estimates match observed jet scattering angles.

Simulation results are consistent with laboratory and astrophysical observations.

Abstract

The paper presents the results of numerical simulation of the propagation of a sequence of plasma knots in laboratory conditions and the astrophysical environment. The physical and geometric parameters of the simulation have been chosen close to the parameters of the PF-3 facility (Kurchatov Institute) and the jet of the star RW Aur. We found that the low-density region formed after the first knot propagation plays an important role for collimation of the subsequent ones. Assuming only the thermal expansion of the subsequent emissions, qualitative estimates of the time taken to fill this area with the surrounding matter and the angle of jet scattering have been made. These estimates are consistent with observations and results of our modeling.