Linear Stability Analysis of Relativistic Magnetized Jets: Methodology

TL;DR

This paper introduces a methodology for analyzing the linear stability of relativistic magnetized jets by deriving and solving the eigenmode equations, including analytical solutions in specific cases.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive approach to determine growth rates of instabilities in relativistic jets using linearized MHD equations and boundary conditions.

Findings

Derivation of differential equations for eigenmodes

Application of WKBJ approximation for analytical solutions

Methodology applicable to various jet stability analyses

Abstract

The stability of astrophysical jets in the linear regime is investigated by presenting the methodology to find the growth rates of the various instabilities. We perturb a cylindrical axisymmetric steady jet, linearize the relativistic ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, and analyze the evolution of the eigenmodes of the perturbation by deriving the differential equations that need to be integrated subject to the appropriate boundary conditions, in order to find the dispersion relation. We also apply the WKBJ approximation and additionally give analytical solutions in some subcases corresponding to unperturbed jets with constant bulk velocity along the symmetry axis.