Reconfinement of highly magnetized jets: implications for HST-1 in M87

Abstract

Stationary features are occasionally observed in AGN jets. A notable example is the HST-1 knot in M87. Such features are commonly interpreted as re-confinement shocks in hydrodynamic jets or focusing nozzles in Poynting jets. In this paper we compute the structure and Lorentz factor of a highly magnetized jet confined by external pressure having a profile that flattens abruptly at some radius. We find the development of strong oscillations upon transition from the steeper to the flatter pressure profile medium. Analytic formula is derived for the location of the nodes of these oscillations. We apply the model to the M87 jet and show that if the jet remains magnetically dominated up to sub-kpc scales, then focusing is expected. The location of the HST-1 knot can be reconciled with recent measurements of the pressure profile around the Bondi radius if the jet luminosity satisfies $L_j\simeq10^{43}$ erg/s. However, we find that magnetic domination at the collimation break implies a Lorentz factor in excess of $10^2$, atypical to FRI sources. A much lower value of the asymptotic Lorentz factor would require substantial loading close to the black hole. In that case HST-1 may be associated with a collimation nozzle of a hydrodynamic flow.