Inclined jets inside a common envelope of a triple stellar system

Abstract

Abstract We conduct a three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulation to study the interaction of two opposite inclined jets inside the envelope of a giant star, and find that the jets induce many vortexes inside the envelope and that they efficiently remove mass from the envelope and form a very clumpy outflow. We assume that this very rare type of interaction occurs when a tight binary system enters the envelope of a giant star, and that the orbital plane of the tight binary system and that of the triple stellar system are inclined to each other. We further assume that one of the stars of the tight binary system accretes mass and launches two opposite jets and that the jets’ axis is inclined to the angular momentum axis of the triple stellar system. The many vortexes that the jets induce along the orbit of the tight binary system inside the giant envelope might play an important role in the common envelope evolution (CEE) by distributing energy in the envelope. The density fluctuations that accompany the vortexes lead to an outflow with many clumps that might facilitate the formation of dust. This outflow lacks any clear symmetry, and it might account for very rare types of ‘messy’ planetary nebulae and ‘messy’ nebulae around massive stars. On a broader scope, our study adds to the notion that jets can play important roles in the CEE, and that they can form a rich variety of shapes of nebulae around evolved stars.