Current-Driven Kink Instability in Relativistic Jets

Yosuke Mizuno, Philip E. Hardee, Yuri Lyubarsky, Ken Ici Nishikawa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

We have investigated the development of current-driven (CD) kink instability in relativistic jets via 3D RMHD simulations. In this investigation a static force-free equilibrium helical magnetic field configuration is considered in order to study the influence of the initial configuration on the linear and nonlinear evolution of the instability. We found that the initial configuration is strongly distorted but not disrupted by the CD kink instability. The linear growth and nonlinear evolution of the CD kink instability depends moderately on the radial density profile and strongly on the magnetic pitch profile. Kink amplitude growth in the nonlinear regime for decreasing magnetic pitch leads to a slender helically twisted column wrapped by magnetic field. On the other hand, kink amplitude growth in the nonlinear regime nearly ceases for increasing magnetic pitch.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Plasma Astrophysics
EditorsAlfio Bonanno, Elisabete de Gouveia Dal Pino, Alexander Kosovichev
Pages476-478
Number of pages3
EditionS274
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
NumberS274
Volume6
ISSN (Print)1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)1743-9221

Keywords

  • MHD
  • instabilities
  • relativistic jets

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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