Astrophysical Jets Research Articles

Re-examination of Penrose's and Kerr's singularities and the origin of protons in astrophysical jets

Re-examination of Penrose's and Kerr's singularities and the origin of protons in astrophysical jets

Stellar Jets: JWST captures a young star's stunning debut.

Stellar Jets: JWST captures a young star's stunning debut.

Resistive relativistic MHD simulations of astrophysical jets

Aims. The main goal of the present paper is to provide the first systematic numerical study of the propagation of astrophysical relativistic jets, in the context of high-resolution, shock-capturing Resistive Relativistic MagnetoHydroDynamic (RRMHD) simulations. We aim to investigate different values and models for the plasma resistivity coefficient, and to assess their impact on the level of turbulence, the formation of current sheets and reconnection plasmoids, the electromagnetic energy content, and the dissipated power. Methods. We used the PLUTO code for simulations and we assumed an axisymmetric setup for the jets, endowed with both poloidal and toroidal magnetic fields, and propagating in a uniform magnetized medium. The gas was assumed to be characterized by a realistic, Synge-like equation of state (the Taub equation), appropriate for such astrophysical jets. The Taub equation was combined here for the first time with the implicit-explicit Runge-Kutta time-stepping procedure, as required in RRMHD simulations. Results. The main result is that turbulence is clearly suppressed for the highest values of resistivity (low Lundquist numbers), current sheets are broader, and plasmoids are barely present, while for low values of resistivity the results are very similar to ideal runs, in which dissipation is purely numerical. We find that recipes employing a variable resistivity based on the advection of a jet tracer or on the assumption of a uniform Lundquist number improve on the use of a constant coefficient and are probably more realistic possible sites for the acceleration of the nonthermal particles that produce the observed high-energy emission, preserving as they do the development of turbulence and of sharp current sheets.

Black Hole Polarimetry I. A Signature of Electromagnetic Energy Extraction

In 1977, Blandford and Znajek showed that the electromagnetic field surrounding a rotating black hole can harvest its spin energy and use it to power a collimated astrophysical jet, such as the one launched from the center of the elliptical galaxy M87. Today, interferometric observations with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) are delivering high-resolution, event-horizon-scale, polarimetric images of the supermassive black hole M87* at the jet launching point. These polarimetric images offer an unprecedented window into the electromagnetic field structure around a black hole. In this paper, we show that a simple polarimetric observable—the phase ∠β 2 of the second azimuthal Fourier mode of the linear polarization in a near-horizon image—depends on the sign of the electromagnetic energy flux and therefore provides a direct probe of black hole energy extraction. In Boyer–Lindquist coordinates, the Poynting flux for axisymmetric electromagnetic fields is proportional to the product B ϕ B r . The phase ∠β 2 likewise depends on the ratio B ϕ /B r , thereby enabling an observer to determine the direction of electromagnetic energy flow in the near-horizon environment experimentally. Data from the 2017 EHT observations of M87* are consistent with electromagnetic energy outflow. Currently envisioned multifrequency observations of M87* will achieve higher dynamic range and angular resolution, and hence deliver measurements of ∠β 2 closer to the event horizon as well as better constraints on Faraday rotation. Such observations will enable a definitive test for energy extraction from the black hole M87*.

New exact plasma equilibria with axial and helical symmetry

We derive new exact closed-form solutions of magnetohydrodynamics equations, with and without dynamics, which model astrophysical jets and other prolonged plasma configurations. The solutions are obtained in static and dynamic incompressible equilibrium settings, in axial and helical symmetry assumptions, and are given in terms of Whittaker, Coulomb, and Heun special functions. For each symmetry, two distinct families of physical solutions arise, corresponding to two distinct pressure profiles. One pressure profile models plasmas supported by an external pressure and is suitable for the description of plasma configurations in a medium, such as atmosphere. The second profile features higher pressure inside the plasma domain and can model plasmas residing in a vacuum. Examples of static and dynamic solutions in axially and helically symmetric settings, including solutions with boundary current sheets, are presented and discussed.

A Comparative Study of Different Sets of Variables in a Discontinuous Galerkin Method with Entropy Balance Enforcement

This paper investigates the effectiveness of different sets of variables in solving the compressible Euler equations using a modal Discontinuous Galerkin framework. Alongside the commonly used conservative and primitive variables, the entropy and logarithmic sets are considered to enforce entropy conservation/stability and positivity preservation of the thermodynamic state, respectively. An explicit correction to enforce entropy conservation/stability at the discrete level is also considered, with a significant increase in robustness for some of the solution strategies. Several two-dimensional inviscid test cases are computed to compare the performance of the different sets of variables, adding a directional shock-capturing term to the discretised equations when necessary. The entropy and logarithmic sets proved to be the most robust, completing simulations of an astrophysical jet at Mach number 2000 up to polynomial degree seven.

On the stability of relativistic two-component AGN jets

ABSTRACT A number of observations of astrophysical jets, at different scales, have shown that jets are often non-uniform outflows in their cross-section. Their structure is believed to play an important role in their overall stability. In this work, we combine analytical methods and numerical simulations to investigate the stability of non-uniform jets originating from active galactic nuclei. We adopt a standard ‘spine and sheath’ model, using a fast, light inner spine and a heavier, slower outer sheath. In the first part of this work, we conduct a linear stability analysis, finding the time-scales for the growth of the instabilities and the corresponding eigenfunctions. We focus on the nature of the physical processes that dominate and drive the destabilization of configurations. In the second part, we examine the evolution of the perturbed jets through relativistic 3D numerical simulations using the pluto code. Starting with the eigenfunctions found in the first part as initial conditions, we derive instability growth times and evolution which are in good agreement with the linear analysis.

Characterization of Quasi-Keplerian, Differentially Rotating, Free-Boundary Laboratory Plasmas.

We present results from pulsed-power driven differentially rotating plasma experiments designed to simulate physics relevant to astrophysical disks and jets. In these experiments, angular momentum is injected by the ram pressure of the ablation flows from a wire array Z pinch. In contrast to previous liquid metal and plasma experiments, rotation is not driven by boundary forces. Axial pressure gradients launch a rotating plasma jet upward, which is confined by a combination of ram, thermal, and magnetic pressure of a surrounding plasma halo. The jet has subsonic rotation, with a maximum rotation velocity 23±3 km/s. The rotational velocity profile is quasi-Keplerian with a positive Rayleigh discriminant κ^{2}∝r^{-2.8±0.8} rad^{2}/s^{2}. The plasma completes 0.5-2 full rotations in the experimental time frame (∼150 ns).

Bursts from Space: MeerKAT – the first citizen science project dedicated to commensal radio transients

ABSTRACT The newest generation of radio telescopes is able to survey large areas with high sensitivity and cadence, producing data volumes that require new methods to better understand the transient sky. Here, we describe the results from the first citizen science project dedicated to commensal radio transients, using data from the MeerKAT telescope with weekly cadence. Bursts from Space: MeerKAT was launched late in 2021 and received ∼89 000 classifications from over 1000 volunteers in 3 months. Our volunteers discovered 142 new variable sources which, along with the known transients in our fields, allowed us to estimate that at least 2.1 per cent of radio sources are varying at 1.28 GHz at the sampled cadence and sensitivity, in line with previous work. We provide the full catalogue of these sources, the largest of candidate radio variables to date. Transient sources found with archival counterparts include a pulsar (B1845-01) and an OH maser star (OH 30.1–0.7), in addition to the recovery of known stellar flares and X-ray binary jets in our observations. Data from the MeerLICHT optical telescope, along with estimates of long time-scale variability induced by scintillation, imply that the majority of the new variables are active galactic nuclei. This tells us that citizen scientists can discover phenomena varying on time-scales from weeks to several years. The success both in terms of volunteer engagement and scientific merit warrants the continued development of the project, while we use the classifications from volunteers to develop machine learning techniques for finding transients.

Signatures of wakefield acceleration in astrophysical jets via gamma-rays and UHECRs

ABSTRACT We present six case studies from a comprehensive mass range (1–109 M⊙) of astrophysical objects, each of which possess jets, emit high-energy gamma radiation and in some instances spatially identifiable ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). All sources are strong candidates for UHECR emission, if not already known to emit them. We surmise that wakefield acceleration in conjunction with the magnetorotational instability of the accretion disc explains both structural properties of the jets and details in their emission signals, such as correlations in neutrino and gamma-ray bursts, and in the case of blazars, anticorrelations in flux and spectral index. Furthermore, our model predicts an upper bound for the energy of UHECRs emitted from a source given the mass of its central compact object and total jet luminosity. To provide context for our model predictions, we quantitatively compare them with observational data, however, we have not accounted for the GZK limit and assumed universal values for several model parameters (e.g. jet-spreading index, p) that likely differ between sources. Since the accretion and acceleration mechanisms are independent of mass, aside from determining maximum values, blazars (∼109 M⊙), radio galaxies ($\sim 10^8\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ ), Seyfert galaxies ($\sim 10^6 \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ ), starburst galaxies ($\sim 10^{3}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ ), even microquasars (1–10 M⊙) interestingly exhibit the same physics. Other radiation bands, such as X-ray, ultraviolet, or radio, may harbour additional information, but we chose not to focus on them for brevity. However, such an endeavour may open the door to a new multimessenger approach for understanding these objects.

Radiation Emission and Absorption by Astrophysical Jets from XRBs

High-energy particles and radiation such as protons, pions, muons, neutrinos and gamma-ray photons are known to emit from collimated outflows of magnetized astrophysical plasma known as jets. They are being ejected by Active Galactic Nuclei or X-ray binary systems consisting of a companion star accreting mass onto a black hole or a neutron star. Our work focuses on the calculation of the produced particle energy distributions and mainly on the intensity of gamma-rays. We apply this model to prominent examples of Black Hole XRBs such as Cygnus X-1, SS 433, GRS 1915+105, etc. We also study and work on calculating the absorption of emitted gamma-rays by soft and hard X-ray radiation fields originating from the system’s accretion disc, corona and companion star that could strongly affect the jet’s gamma-ray intensity that finally reaches the Earth.

The Morphology and Dynamics of Relativistic Jets with Relativistic Equation of State

We study the effect of plasma composition on the dynamics and morphology of relativistic astrophysical jets. Our work is based on a relativistic total variation diminishing simulation code. We use a relativistic equation of state in the simulation code that accounts for the thermodynamics of a multispecies plasma, which is a mixture of electrons, positrons, and protons. To study the effect of plasma composition, we consider various jet models. These models are characterized by the same injection parameters, same jet kinetic luminosity, and the same Mach numbers. The evolution of these models shows that the plasma composition affects the propagation speed of the jet head, the structure of the jet head, and the morphology, despite fixing the initial parameters. We conclude that electron-positron jets are the slowest and show more pronounced turbulent structures in comparison to other plasma compositions. The area and locations of the hot-spots also depend on the composition of the jet plasma. Our results also show that boosting mechanisms are an important aspect of multi-dimensional simulations, which are also influenced by the change in composition.

Formation and evolution of coherent structures in 3D strongly turbulent magnetized plasmas

We review the current literature on the formation of coherent structures (CoSs) in strongly turbulent 3D magnetized plasmas. CoSs [Current Sheets (CS), magnetic filaments, large amplitude magnetic disturbances, vortices, and shocklets] appear intermittently inside a turbulent plasma and are collectively the locus of magnetic energy transfer (dissipation) into particle kinetic energy, leading to heating and/or acceleration of the latter. CoSs and especially CSs are also evolving and fragmenting, becoming locally the source of new clusters of CoSs. Strong turbulence can be generated by the nonlinear coupling of large amplitude unstable plasma modes, by the explosive reorganization of large-scale magnetic fields, or by the fragmentation of CoSs. A small fraction of CSs inside a strongly turbulent plasma will end up reconnecting. Magnetic Reconnection (MR) is one of the potential forms of energy dissipation of a turbulent plasma. Analyzing the evolution of CSs and MR in isolation from the surrounding CoSs and plasma flows may be convenient for 2D numerical studies, but it is far from a realistic modeling of 3D astrophysical, space, and laboratory environments, where strong turbulence can be exited, such as in the solar wind, the solar atmosphere, solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections, large-scale space and astrophysical shocks, the magnetosheath, the magnetotail, astrophysical jets, and Edge Localized Modes in confined laboratory plasmas (tokamaks).

Shocks and Photoionization of the Inner 650 au Jet of the Interacting Binary Star R Aquarii from Multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope Observations

Astrophysical jets are present in a range of environments, including young stellar objects, X-ray binaries, and active galactic nuclei, but their formation is still not fully understood. As one of the nearest symbiotic binary stars, R Aquarii (D ∼ 220 pc) offers a unique opportunity to study the inner region within ∼600 au of the jet source, which is particularly crucial to our understanding of nonrelativistic jet formation and origin. We present high-angular resolution UV and optical imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope in six emission-line regions of the inner jet. Using these observations to obtain a range of representative line ratios for our system and kinematic data derived from a comparison with previous studies, we model the shocked gas in order to determine the relative roles of shock heating and photoionization in the R Aquarii system. We find that our shock models suggest that a nonzero magnetic field is needed to describe the measured line ratios. We also find that the Mg ii λλ2795,2802 intensities are overpredicted by our models for most of the jet regions, perhaps because of depletion onto grains or to opacity in these resonance lines.

Observation of poloidal magnetic flux emission from the post-pinch phase of a plasma focus and its significance for laboratory simulation of astrophysical jets

Observation of poloidal magnetic flux emission from the post-pinch phase of a plasma focus and its significance for laboratory simulation of astrophysical jets

Shock Corrugation to the Rescue of the Internal Shock Model in Microquasars: The Single-scale Magnetohydrodynamic View

Questions regarding the energy dissipation in astrophysical jets remain open to date, despite numerous attempts to limit the diversity of the models. Some of the most popular models assume that energy is transferred to particles via internal shocks, which develop as a consequence of the nonuniform velocity of the jet matter. In this context, we study the structure and energy deposition of colliding plasma shells, focusing our attention on the case of initially inhomogeneous shells. This leads to the formation of distorted (corrugated) shock fronts—a setup that has recently been shown to revive particle acceleration in relativistic magnetized perpendicular shocks. Our study shows that the radiative power of the far downstream of nonrelativistic magnetized perpendicular shocks is moderately enhanced with respect to the flat-shock cases. Based on the decay rate of the downstream magnetic field, we make predictions for multiwavelength polarization properties.

Anisotropic photon and electron scattering without ultrarelativistic approximation

The authors present exact numerical computations leading to a general theoretical formalism of Compton and inverse Compton scattering in several key astrophysical processes, such as X- \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray polarization and astrophysical jets. Their assumption of (1) anisotropic photons and electrons, and (2) no ultrarelativistic approximations, demonstrates major deviations in certain regimes compared to previous calculations.

Spatial Structure of the Plasma Flows in the Magnetic Fields of Laser Plasma

The results of studying the spatial structure of the plasma flows that appear when a laser pulse of relativistic intensity (above 1018 W/cm2) is incident on the surface of a solid target are presented. The ring structure experimentally observed in the cross section of a plasma flow is shown to correspond to the toroidal equilibrium plasma configuration that appears in the strong magnetic fields of laser plasma. A model is proposed to describe astrophysical current jets consisting of a discrete sequence of toroidal equilibrium plasma structures.

Wakefield acceleration in the universe

The important role of magnetic fields in the phenomena in and evolution of the Universe is well appreciated. A salient example of this is to make (often episodic) large magnetic fields in AGN accretion disks and their emanation of well-collimated and longitudinally extended astrophysical jets. Such typical cases or related astrophysical processes, we find, provide a fertile ground for exciting large-amplitude oscillations in the magnetic fields that constitute the spine of the jets. The energy sources of these oscillations can be traced originally to the gravitational energy of the central object. During their long propagation along the jet, because of the gradual changes of the density and magnetic fields, these large magnetic pulsations turn into relativistic amplitude electromagnetic (EM) pulses, which in turn induce intense wakefields that are capable of acceleration of electrons, positrons, and ions to high energies. In this review, we survey a variety of astrophysical objects ranging from as large as the cosmic AGN accretion disks and their jets to as small as microquasars, to find or predict that there exist common astrophysical processes of emission of high-energy particles and gamma (and other EM) emissions. A variety of these objects will be ideally observed and studied in the multimessenger astrophysical observations. One example that already stuck out was the case of the simultaneous observations of gravitational wave emission and gamma-ray pulse from the collision of the two neutron stars and their subsequent structure formation (such as a disk) around them.

Exploring the role of composition and mass loading on the properties of hadronic jets

ABSTRACTAstrophysical jets are relativistic outflows that remain collimated for remarkably many orders of magnitude. Despite decades of research, the origin of cosmic rays (CRs) remains unclear, but jets launched by both supermassive black holes in the centre of galaxies and stellar-mass black holes harboured in X-ray binaries (BHXBs) are among the candidate sources for CR acceleration. When CRs accelerate in astrophysical jets, they initiate particle cascades that form γ-rays and neutrinos. In the so-called hadronic scenario, the population of accelerated CRs requires a significant amount of energy to properly explain the spectral constraints, similarly to a purely leptonic scenario. The amount of energy required often exceeds the Eddington limit or even the total energy available within the jets. The exact energy source for the accelerated protons is unclear, but due to energy conservation along the jets, it is believed to come from the jet itself via transfer of energy from the magnetic fields or kinetic energy from the outflow. To address this hadronic energy issue and to self-consistently evolve the energy flux along the flows, we explore a novel treatment for including hadronic content, in which instabilities along the jet/wind border play a critical role. We discuss the impact of the different jet compositions on the jet dynamics for a pair dominated and an electron-proton jet and, consequently, the emitted spectrum, accounting for both leptonic and hadronic processes. Finally, we discuss the implications of this mass-loading scenario to address the proton energy issue.