Reconnection and Associated Flares in Global Relativistic Jets Containing Helical Magnetic Fields with PIC Simulations
Abstract
In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with theenvironment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron-proton and electron-positron relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of “global” jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI) using a larger jet radius. In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the electron-proton jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs near the center of jet. In the electron-positron jet simulation mixed kinetic instabilities grow and the jet electrons are accelerated. The evolution of electron-ion jets will be investigated with different mass ratios. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields. We will investigate mechanisms of flares possibly due to reconnection.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #231
- Pub Date:
- January 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AAS...23140403N