Abstract
Observations of astrophysical jets and theoretical arguments suggest a transverse stratification with two components induced by intrinsic features of the central engine (accretion disk + black hole). We study two-component jet dynamics for an inner fast low density jet, surrounded by a slower, denser, extended jet. We investigate for the first time this two-component jet evolution with very high resolution in 2.5D and 3D. We demonstrate that two-component jets with high kinetic energy flux contribution from the inner jet are subject to the development of a relativistically enhanced, rotation-induced Rayleigh-Taylor type instability. This instability induces strong mixing between both components, decelerating the inner jet and leading to overall jet decollimation. The 3D simulation confirms the dominance of the non-axisymmetric character of this novel explanation for sudden jet deceleration. We note that it can explain the radio source dichotomy as a direct consequence of the efficiency of the central engine in launching the inner jet component. We argue that the FRII/FRI transition, interpreted in our two-component jet scenario, occurs when the relative kinetic energy flux of the inner to the outer jet exceeds a critical ratio.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Numerical modeling of space plasma flows, Astronum-2009 : proceedings of the 4th international conference held at Chamonix, France, June 29-July 3, 2009 |
Editors | Nikolai V. Pogorelov, Edouard Audit, Gary P. Zank |
Place of Publication | San Francisco |
Publisher | Astronomical Society of the Pacific |
Pages | 121-126 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Publication status | Published - 29 Jun 2009 |