MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATION IN CORE-SHEATH JETS VIA THE KINETIC KELVIN-HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY

We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2014-09, Vol.793 (1), p.1-16
Main Authors: Nishikawa, K-I, Hardee, P E, DUTAN, I, Niemiec, J, Medvedev, M, Mizuno, Y, Meli, A, Sol, H, Zhang, B, Pohl, M, Hartmann, D H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCELERATION
ALTERNATING CURRENT
Astrophysics
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Electron-positron plasmas
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
Jets
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
Lorentz factor
LORENTZ INVARIANCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MIXING
Particle in cell technique
Physics
PLASMA JETS
PLASMA SHEATH
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
Sheaths
SIMULATION
STARS
SURFACES
THICKNESS
Three dimensional
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
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Summary:We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15 for both electron-proton and electron-positron plasmas. For electron-proton plasmas, we find generation of strong large-scale DC currents and magnetic fields that extend over the entire shear surface and reach thicknesses of a few tens of electron skin depths. For electron-positron plasmas, we find generation of alternating currents and magnetic fields. Jet and sheath plasmas are accelerated across the shear surface in the strong magnetic fields generated by the kKHI. The mixing of jet and sheath plasmas generates a transverse structure similar to that produced by the Weibel instability.
ISSN:1538-4357
0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/793/1/60