Reverse shock wave in relativistic explosions

The dynamical evolution of a relativistic explosion in a homogeneous medium is studied by means of a time-dependent, hydrodynamic code. When the expanding velocity of the shock front reduces to the sound velocity in the relativistic fluid, the reverse shock wave propagating inward through the expanding material is generated. The radius of the turning point of the reverse shock wave is proportional to the explosion energy and hardly depends on the mass of the explosion products. In the case of the non-relativistic explosion, the reverse shock wave is generated just after the free expansion stage. The radius of the turning point of the reverse shock wave is proportional to the mass of the explosion products and little depends on the explosion energy. In both cases of the non-relativistic and relativistic explosion, the reverse shock wave is strong in a spherical explosion and weak in a cylindrical one. The plane symmetric explosion does not generate the reverse shock wave.     

Fluid dynamics of relativistic beams flowing through channels and evolution of double radio sources

Dynamical evolution of a relativistic beam ejected from a galactic centre is studied using the similarity method for the relativistic winds flowing through channels. The expansion phase is divided into two stages: A relativistic expansion and a non-relativistic expansion stage. By the dimensional analysis for a relativistic wind, the propagation law of the expanding wave front is obtained. When the front moves relativistically, the density of the ambient matter observed in the co-moving frame of the front increases by the Lorentz contraction and mass increment, and the propagation law obtained in the classical theory is modified by these relativistic effects. On the basis of a perturbation method, a new similarity method for a relativistic flow whose front velocity is varing with the expansion is presented. The flow structures of the relativistic wind are given. With the expansion of a beam, the inward-facing shock wave is more separated from the front of the outward-expanding shock wave and its shock strength becomes stronger than that of the outward-expanding shock wave when the ejected beam consists of energetic particles. The evolutions of the extragalactic double sources are considered. The relative position of the hot spot in the radio map is presented at each stage of the expansion and discussed with the observational radio maps. The time variation of the radio emission is predicted.     

A possible mechanism of jet formation in the nuclei of radio galaxies

A hypothesis is being put forward that the formation of jets in the nuclei of radio galaxies is due to a high-speed energy excretion (explosion) in the accretion disk around a massive black hole. The explosion can be induced, for example, by a fall of the star into the black hole. For the accretion disk featuring an exponential high-density distribution, an asymmetrical explosion can be obtained: the shock front moves in the direction of decreasing the density accelerately and achieves the relativistic velocity swiftly, carrying away the most fraction of the explosion energy. Radio emission of the jet involves synchrotron radiation of relativistic electrons which are accelerated by such shock wave in the magnetic field driven up by the shock front.     

A self-similar solution for a supernova explosion with allowance for accelerated relativistic particles

A self-similar solution to Sedov’s problem of a strong explosion in a homogeneous medium is generalized to the case of relativistic-particle generation in a supernova remnant; the particles are accelerated by Fermi’s mechanism at the shock front and in the perturbed post-shock region. Self-similarity takes place if the thickness of the prefront is small compared to its radius and if the pressure ratio of the relativistic and nonrelativistic components at the shock front is kept constant. In the presence of relativistic particles, the time dependence of the shock-front radius remains the same as that in their absence, but the plasma parameters in the inner perturbed region change appreciably. The shell of the matter raked up by the explosion is denser and thinner than that in the nonrelativistic case, the relativistic-particle pressure in the central region remains finite, and the nonrelativistic-gas pressure at the explosion center approaches zero. The influence of relativistic particles on the transition to the radiative phase of expansion of the supernova remnant and on its dynamics is studied. It is shown that relativistic particles can decrease several-fold the remnant radius at which the transition to the radiative phase occurs.     

Effects of cosmic rays and density inhomogeneity of the circumstellar medium on the formation of a supernova shell

We consider the self-similar problem of a supernova explosion in a radially inhomogeneous medium by taking into account the generation of accelerated relativistic particles. The initial density of the medium is assumed to decrease with distance from the explosion center as a power law, ρ ₀ = A/r ^θ. We use a two-fluid approach in which the total pressure in the medium is the sum of the circumstellar gas pressure and the relativistic particle pressure. The relativistic particle pressure at the shock front is specified as an external parameter. This approach is applicable in the case where the diffusion coefficient of accelerated particles is small and the thickness of the shock front is much smaller than its radius. We have numerically solved a system of ordinary differential equations for the dimensionless quantities that describe the velocity and density behind the shock front as well as the nonrelativistic gas and relativistic particle pressures for various parameters of the inhomogeneity of the medium and various compression ratios of the medium at the shock front. We have established that the shock acceleration of cosmic rays affects most strongly the formation of a supernova shell (making it thinner) in a homogeneous circumstellar medium. A decrease in the circumstellar matter density with distance from the explosion center causes the effect of shock-accelerated relativistic particles on the supernova shell formation to weaken considerably. Inhomogeneity of the medium makes the shell thicker and less dense, while an increase in the compression ratio of the medium at the shock front causes the shell to become thinner and denser. As the relativistic particle density increases, the effect of circumstellar matter inhomogeneity on the shell formation becomes weaker.     

A nonlinear theory of stellar wind with allowance for the influence of relativistic particles

We solve the nonlinear problem of the dynamics of a steady-state, spherically symmetric stellar wind by taking into account particle acceleration to relativistic energies near the shock front. The particles are assumed to be accelerated through the Fermi mechanism, interacting with stellar-wind turbulence and crossing many times the shock front that separates the supersonic and subsonic stellar-wind regions. We take into account the influence of the accelerated particles on hydrodynamic plasma-flow parameters. Our method allows all hydrodynamic parameters of the shock front and plasma in the supersonic region to be determined in a self-consistent way and the accelerated-particle energy spectrum to be calculated. Our numerical and analytic calculations show that the plasma compression ratio at the shock front increases compared to the case where there are no relativistic particles and that the velocity profile in the supersonic region acquires a characteristic kink. The shape of the energy spectrum for the accelerated particles and their pressure near the front are essentially determined by the presumed dependence of the diffusion coefficient on particle energy, which, in turn, depends on the scale distribution of turbulent pulsations and other stellar-wind inhomogeneities.     

The motion of the cylindrical-symmetrical relativistic shock wave in the presence of an axial magnetic field

Some observed astrophysical phenomena, such as the blast of a supernova, suggest the necessity to study the motion of shock waves in a relativistic fluid flow in the presence of a magnetic field. This paper deals with the motion of a special relativistic shock wave which propagates from the center line outwardly after an explosion with the assumption that the magnetic field which has an axial component only. Similarity solutions which depend on the parameter =r/t are constructed. Two special cases are then studied in detail. In the first case, there is an ultrarelativistic fluid in front of the shock and in the second case, there is a cold fluid in front of the shock.     

A self-similar flow behind a spherical shock wave with thermal radiation,I

Similarity solutions, for one-dimensional unsteady flow of a perfect gas behind a spherical shock wave produced on account of a sudden explosion or driven out by an expanding piston including the effects of radiative cooling, are investigated. The shock ahead of the point of explosion or piston is propagating into a transparent medium at rest with non-uniform density. The total energy of the wave is assumed to be time dependent obeying a power law.     

Thermal waves in stars

Conclusions In this paper I have set forth in detail the theory of thermal waves in inhomogeneous media; it has, I believe, independent theoretical interest. I wish also to point out the fact that the mechanism of separation of an envelope in a nova explosion has hitherto remained obscure, since it strongly depends on the nature of the energy source of the explosion. Thus, if this energy is liberated by thermonuclear reactions, it is more probable that the time of development of the phenomenon reaches hundreds or even thousands of seconds. In such a case, the ejection of an envelope of the star is the result of the total effect of an infinite series of acoustic and weak shock waves that, added together, give a powerful pressure wave [6]. But if the energy of the explosion is gravitational in nature, its liberation may be virtually instantaneous, and the mechanism that transports the energy to infinity could be either a shock wave or a thermal wave. Moreover, if the explosion is due to a rearrangement of only the outer shell of the star, a thermal wave is more probable. And although the velocities of the thermal waves themselves are high, the rate of expansion of the matter of the shell will be appreciably less, since the time (of the order of a few seconds) is too short for interaction between radiation and matter. This distribution of velocities of the matter behind the thermal front can be obtained by a numerical solution of the equations of gas dynamics with allowance for the effects of radiative thermal conductivity; I hope to find such a solution in the future.Astronomical Observatory, L'vov University. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 307–317, April–June, 1973.     

A test for models of radio source evolution

Some observed astrophysical phenomena such as the blast of a supernova (cf. Zeldovich and Novikov, 1966; Blandfordet al., 1977; Shapiro, 1979) suggest the necessity of study of the motion of shock waves in a relativistic fluid flow in the presence of a magnetic field. This paper deals with the motion of special relativistic shock wave which propagates from the center line outwardly after an explosion with the assumption that the magnetic field which has an axial component only. Similarity solutions which depend on the parameter =r/t are constructed. Two special cases are then studied in detail. In the first case, there is an ultra-relativistic fluid in front of the shock and in the second case, there is a cold fluid in front of the shock.     

Equations of general relativistic radiation hydrodynamics from a tensor formalism

Radiation interacts with matter via exchange of energy and momentum. When matter is moving with a relativistic velocity or when the background space–time is strongly curved, rigorous relativistic treatment of hydrodynamics and radiative transfer is required. Here, we derive fully general relativistic radiation hydrodynamic equations from a covariant tensor formalism. The equations can be applied to any three-dimensional problems and are rather straightforward to understand compared to the comoving frame-based equations. The current approach is applicable to any space–time or coordinates, but in this work we specifically choose the Schwarzschild space–time to show explicitly how the hydrodynamic and the radiation moment equations are derived. Some important aspects of relativistic radiation hydrodynamics and the difficulty with the radiation moment formalism are discussed as well.     

A self-similar flow of self-gravitating gas behind a spherical shock wave in magnetogasdynamics

This paper considers a spherical shock, in a conducting gas, of self-gravitating gas propagating in a non-uniform atmosphere at rest. Similarity principle has been used to reduce the equations governing the flow to ordinary differential equations under the assumption that the density varies as an inverse-power of distance from the point or explosion. The total energy of the wave is variable.Supported by CSIR, New Delhi under grant No. 7/57/287/81/EMR-I.     

Similarity solutions for an axially symmetric explosion model in magnetogasdynamics. I

Similarity solutions, for a point explosion in a spheroid with axially symmetric density distribution obeying power laws in the presence of magnetic field, are obtained. A new technique suggested by Bhowmick (1978) has been utilised to study the character of flow variables behind the shock front in an axisymmetric model. The total energy of the wave is constant.     

Acceleration of relativistic charged particles by supersonic hydromagnetic turbulence

The acceleration of relativistic particles is considered during their intersection with hydromagnetic shock fronts in the presence of randomly distributed large-scale magnetic fields. In a series of astronomical objects, the Larmor radius of the relativistic particles exceeds the width of the shock front. In this case there is a change in the adiabatic invariant which results in an increase in the energy of the particle when it crosses the front in any direction. We have proved that the adiabatic part of the energy change will be partially or completely compensated by its reverse change in the weaker regions of the magnetic field. The acceleration mechanism considered is found to be more effective than the Fermi mechanism.If the mean free path of the particles is much less than the distance between the shock fronts, magnetic small-scale fluctuations cause further scattering of the particles. In this case the particles following and crossing the front will return to it. After reversed crossing, a fraction of the particles-defined by the ratio of the front speed to the particle velocity or of the distance between the fronts to the free path — will not return to the front. It is proved that for both large and small free paths the rates at which the particle gains energy are nearly the same.     

A self-similar flow of self-gravitating gas behind a shock wave with increasing energy,I

Self-similar flows of self-gravitating gas behind a spherical shock wave which are driven out by a propelling contact surface, propagating in a nonuniform atmosphere at rest, are investigated. The total energy content of the flow between a shock front and contact surface is taken to be time-dependent. In brief, the self-similar homothermal flows of self-gravitating gas behind a shock wave and Roche's model case are also studied in the present paper.     

Two-Dimensional Simulation of the Dynamics of the Collapse of a Rotating Core with Formation of a Neutron Star on an Adaptive Triangular Grid in Lagrangian Coordinates

Results are presented from a two-dimensional numerical simulation of the collapse of a rotating core with formation of a neutron star that has strong differential rotation in its outer regions. A specially developed numerical method is used which is based on a fully conservative implicit operator difference scheme for gravitational gas dynamics problems in lagrangian coordinates on a variable-structure triangular grid. The recoil shock wave generated by the collapse causes ejection of a small amount of material. This cannot explain the explosion of type II supernovae. The strong differential rotation in the presence of even a weak initial magnetic field obtained in these calculations must lead to a rise in the magnetic pressure, formation of an MHD shock wave, and conversion of rotational energy into the energy of radial expansion (magnetorotational supernova explosion).     

Propagation of plane relativistic shock waves in the presence of a magnetic field

In this paper we obtain similarity solutions for the propagation of plane relativistic shock waves in the presence of a transverse magnetic field for the medium, where the nucleon number density obeys a power law of distance from the plane of explosion. The shock surface moves with constant velocity and the total energy of the disturbance is dependent on time. The solutions are applicable only to an isothermal medium or a cold gas.     

Self-similar flow behind a spherical shock with varying strength in an inhomogeneous medium

The model of self-similar shock wave produced on account of an instantaneous release of energy in a non-uniform gaseous mass, has been discussed with the equilibrium conditions. The disturbance are headed by a shock of variable strength. This model is of considerable physical interest in sonic booms, phenomena associated with laser production of plasma, high altitude nuclear detonation, supernova explosion and sudden expansion of corona into the interplanetary space.     

Plane relativistic shock waves at the edge of a gas

Similarity solutions for propagation of plane relativistic shock waves through a medium of decreasing nucleon density and approaching the edge of the gas as well as for the subsequent motion of the gas after the shock front arrives at the vacuous boundary are studied in this paper. The medium in the pre-disturbed stage is assumed cold and in the disturbed stage its equation of state is taken as that of a photonic gas.     

Generation of electromagnetic waves in the electron-positron plasma in the vicinity of a pulsar

The problem of the efficiency of the ion-synchrotron maser proposed by Hoshino and Arons is analyzed in a linear approximation. A hot, relativistic, electron-positron plasma penetrated by a relativistic ion beam is considered. At the front of the magnetosonic shock wave an electromagnetic wave is generated, which should be damped on positrons of the plasma. This should, in turn, result in synchrotron emission from energetic positrons in the high-frequency range, far above the natural frequencies of the plasma. It is shown that one must allow simultaneously for the conditions of resonance at a high harmonic of the ion-cyclotron frequency and at the fundamental of the electron-cyclotron frequency. Natural transverse waves are generated in the process, but within the framework of the linear theory there is no positron acceleration due to the kinetic energy of ions. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 389-396, July–September, 2000.