A model is developed for the confinement and collimation of a baryon poor outflow by its surrounding medium. Both, confinement by kinetic pressure of a static corona, and confinement by the ram pressure of a supersonic wind emanating from a disk surrounding the inner source are considered. Solutions are presented for the structure of the shocked layers of a deflected baryon poor jet (BPJ) and exterior wind. The dependence of the opening angle of the BPJ on the parameters of the confining medium are carefully examined. It is found that the BPJ shock may either converge to the symmetry axis or diverge away from it, depending on the opening angle of the BPJ injection cone. In the latter case the inner flow exhibits a non-uniform structure, consisting of an ultra-relativistic core containing the unshocked BPJ enveloped by the slower, shocked BPJ layer. The implications of our results to the prompt GRB emission are briefly discussed.
Exact semianalytic solutions for GRB outflows were recently derived using the equations of special-relativistic ideal MHD (see Vlahakis & Konigl in these Proceedings for a summary). This contribution focuses on the implications of these results to various modeling and observational issues in GRB sources, including the baryon loading problem, polarization measurements of the prompt and reverse-shock emission, and the possible existence of a two-component outflow.
We present exact radially self-similar solutions of special-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics representing ``hot'' super-Alfvenic outflows from strongly magnetized, rotating compact objects. We argue that such outflows can plausibly arise in gamma-ray burst (GRB) sources and demonstrate that, just as in the case of the trans-Alfvenic flows considered in the companion paper, they can attain Lorentz factors that correspond to a rough equipartition between the Poynting and kinetic-energy fluxes and become cylindrically collimated on scales compatible with GRB observations. As in the trans-Alfveni…
The axisymmetric 3-D MHD outflow of a cold plasma from a magnetized and rotating astrophysical object is numerically simulated with the purpose of investigating the outflow's magnetocentrifugal acceleration and eventual collimation. Gravity and thermal pressure are neglected while a split-monopole is used to describe the initial magnetic field configuration. It is found that the stationary final state depends critically on a single parameter alpha expressing the ratio of the corotating speed at the Alfven distance to the initial flow speed along the initial monopole-like magnetic fieldlines. S…
Using ideal magnetohydrodynamics we examine an outflow from a disk surrounding a stellar-mass compact object. We demonstrate that the magnetic acceleration is efficient (of the order of 50% or more of the magnetic energy can be transformed into kinetic energy of baryons with Lorentz factors above 100) and also that the jet becomes collimated to very small opening angles. Observational implications, focusing on the case of an initially neutron-rich outflow, are discussed in Konigl's contribution to these Proceedings.
We present a general formulation of special-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics and derive exact radially self-similar solutions for axisymmetric outflows from strongly magnetized, rotating compact objects. We generalize previous work by including thermal effects and analyze in detail the various forces that guide, accelerate, and collimate the flow. We demonstrate that, under the assumptions of a quasi-steady poloidal magnetic field and of a highly relativistic poloidal velocity, the equations become effectively time-independent and the motion can be described as a frozen pulse. We concentrate …
(abridged) We present a semianalytic model of steady-state magnetically and radiatively driven disk outflows in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) consisting of a continuous wind with embedded clouds. The continuous outflow is launched from the disk surface as a centrifugally driven wind, whereas the clouds are uplifted from the disk by the ram pressure of the continuous outflow. In addition, the continuous wind and clouds are subject to both line and continuum radiative acceleration. We describe this model in detail, outline the tests used to verify its accuracy, and compare it to other outflow mo…
An exact model for magnetized and rotating outflows, underpressured at their axis, is analysed by means of a nonlinear separation of the variables in the two-dimensional governing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations for axisymmetric plasmas. The outflow starts subsonically and subAlfvénically from the central gravitating source and its surrounding accretion disk and after crossing the MHD critical points, high values of the Alfvén Mach number may be reached. Three broad types of solutions are found: (a) collimated jet-type outflows from efficient magnetic rotators where the outflow is confined…
In this paper we explore the effect of radiative losses on purely hydrodynamic jet collimation models applicable to Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). In our models aspherical bubbles form from the interaction of a central YSO wind with an aspherical circum-protostellar density distribution. Building on a previous non-radiative study (Frank & Mellema 1996) we demonstrate that supersonic jets are a natural and robust consequence of aspherical wind-blown bubble evolution. The simulations show that the addition of radiative cooling makes the hydrodynamic collimation mechanisms studied by Frank & Melle…
We explore the physics of time-dependent hydrodynamic collimation of jets from Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). Using parameters appropriate to YSOs we have carried out high resolution hydrodynamic simulations modeling the interaction of a central wind with an environment characterized by a moderate opening angle toroidal density distribution. The results show that the the wind/environment interaction produces strongly collimated supersonic jets. The jet is composed of shocked wind gas. Using analytical models of wind blown bubble evolution we show that the scenario studied here should be applica…
We present the results of time-dependent, numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a realistic young stellar object outflow model with the addition of a disk-associated magnetic field. The outflow produced by the magnetic star-disk interaction consists of an episodic jet plus a wide-angle wind with an outflow speed comparable to that of the jet (100--200 km/s). An initially vertical field of << 0.1 Gauss, embedded in the disk, has little effect on the wind launching mechanism, but we show that it collimates the entire flow (jet + wide wind) at large (several AU) distances. The collimation …
We present the results of numerical hydrodynamic models for the collimation of outflows from young stellar objects. We show that the presence of a toroidal environment can lead to efficient formation of jets and bipolar outflows from initially uncollimated central winds. The interaction between the wind and the environment leads to two types of collimation, one which is dominated by radiative cooling effects, and one which works when cooling is less efficient. We describe the two types of jets as they appear in the simulations and we suggest a description for the long term evolution of these s…
An axisymmetric MHD model is examined analytically to illustrate some key aspects of the physics of hot and magnetized outflows which originate in the near environment of a central gravitating body. By analyzing the asymptotical behaviour of the outflows it is found that they attain a variety of shapes such as conical, paraboloidal or cylindrical. However, non cylindrical asymptotics can be achieved only when the magnetic pinching is negligible and the outflow is overpressured on its symmetry axis. In cylindrical jet-type asymptotics, the outflowing plasma reaches an equilibrium wherein it is …
The asymptotic structure of outflows from rotating magnetized objects confined by a uniform external pressure is calculated. The flow is assumed to be perfect MHD, polytropic, axisymmetric and stationary. The well known associated first integrals together with the confining external pressure, which is taken to be independent of the distance to the source, determine the asymptotic structure. The integrals are provided by solving the flow physics for the base within the framework of the model developed in Paper I (Lery et al. 1998), which assumes conical geometry below the fast mode surface, and…
We have argued that magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in an accretion disk naturally produces hoop-stresses, and that in a geometrically-thick flow these stresses could both drive and collimate an outflow. We based this argument on an analogy of turbulent MHD fluids to viscoelastic fluids, in which azimuthal shear flow creates hoop-stresses that cause a variety of flow phenomena, including the Weissenberg effect in which a fluid climbs a spinning rod. One of the more important differences between the Weissenberg effect and astrophysical jets is the source of power. In our previous analysis,…
(Abriged) We present a comprehensive set of axisymmetric, time-dependent simulations of jets from Keplerian disks whose mass loading as a function of disk radius is systematically changed. For a reasonable model for the density structure and injection speed of the underlying accretion disk, mass loading is determined by the radial structure of the disk's magnetic field structure. We vary this structure by using four different magnetic field configurations, ranging from the "potential" configuration (Ouyed&Pudritz 1997), to the increasingly more steeply falling Blandford&Payne (1982) and Pellet…
We apply a two-zone MHD model to the jet of M87. The model consists of an inner relativistic outflow, which is surrounded by a non-relativistic outer disk-wind. The outer disk-wind collimates very well through magnetic self-collimation and confines the inner relativistic jet into a narrow region around the rotation axis. Further, we show by example, that such models reproduce very accurately the observed opening angle of the M87 jet over a large range from the kiloparsec scale down to the sub-parsec scale.
Steady axisymmetric outflows originating at the hot coronal magnetosphere of a Schwarzschild black hole and surrounding accretion disk are studied in the framework of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD). The assumption of meridional self-similarity is adopted for the construction of semi-analytical solutions of the GRMHD equations describing outflows close to the polar axis. In addition, it is assumed that relativistic effects related to the rotation of the black hole and the plasma are negligible compared to the gravitational and other energetic terms. The constructed model allo…
There is growing evidence that relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei undergo extended (parsec-scale) acceleration. We argue that, contrary to some suggestions in the literature, this acceleration cannot be purely hydrodynamic. Using exact semianalytic solutions of the relativistic MHD equations, we demonstrate that the parsec-scale acceleration to relativistic speeds inferred in sources like the radio galaxy NGC 6251 and the quasar 3C 345 can be attributed to magnetic driving. Additional observational implications of this model will be explored in future papers in this series.
We present two-dimensional, cylindrically symmetric simulations of hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wide-angle winds interacting with a collapsing environment. These simulations have direct relevance to young stellar objects (YSOs). The results may also be of use in the study of collimated outflows from proto-planetary and planetary nebulae. We study a range of wind configurations consistent with asymptotic MHD wind collimation. The degree of collimation is parameterized by the ratio of the wind density at the pole to that of the equator. We find that a toroidal magnetic field can ha…
This paper explores the effects of post-AGB winds driven solely by magnetic pressure from the stellar surface. It is found that winds can reach high speeds under this assumption, and lead to the formation of highly collimated proto-planetary nebulae. Bipolar knotty jets with periodic features and constant velocity are well reproduced by the models. Several wind models with terminal velocities from a few tens of $\kms$ up to $10^3$ $\kms$ are calculated, yielding outflows with linear momenta in the range $10^{36}-10^{40} \gcms$, and kinetic energies in the range $10^{42}-10^{47} $ erg. These re…
A stationary self-consistent outflow of a magnetised relativistic plasma from a rotating object with an initially monopole-like magnetic field is investigated in the ideal MHD approximation under the condition $σ/U_0^2 >1$, where $σ$ is the ratio of the Poynting flux over the mass energy flux at the equator and the surface of the star, with $U_0=γ_0v_0/c$ and $γ_0$ the initial four-velocity and Lorentz factor of the plasma. The mechanism of the magnetocentrifugal acceleration and self-collimation of the relativistic plasma is investigated. A jet-like relativistic flow along the axis of rotatio…
We resolve the paradox that although magnetic collimation of an isotropic solar wind results in an enhancement of its proton flux along the polar directions, several observations indicate a wind proton flux peaked at the equator. To that goal, we solve the full set of the time-dependent MHD equations describing the axisymmetric outflow of plasma from the magnetized and rotating Sun, either in its present form of the solar wind, or, in its earlier form of a protosolar wind. Special attention is directed towards the collimation properties of the solar outflow at large heliocentric distances. For…
Using axisymmetric MHD simulations we investigate how the overall jet formation is affected by a variation in the disk magnetic flux profile and/or the existence of a central stellar magnetosphere. Our simulations evolve from an initial, hydrostatic equilibrium state in a force-free magnetic field configuration. We find a unique relation between the collimation degree and the disk wind magnetization power law exponent. The collimation degree decreases for steeper disk magnetic field profiles. Highly collimated outflows resulting from a flat profile tend to be unsteady. We further consider a ma…
Studies of jets from young stellar objects (YSO's) suggest that material is launched from a small central region at wide opening angles and collimated by an interaction with the surrounding environment. Using time-dependent, numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we follow the detailed launching of a central wind via the coupling of a stellar dipole field to the inner edge of an accretion disc. Our method employs a series of nested computational grids, which allows the simulations to follow the central wind out to scales of tens of AU, where it may interact with its surroundings. The coupl…
Gamma-ray bursts are believed to be produced in highly-relativistic collimated outflows. Support for this comes among others from the association of the times of detected breaks in the decay of afterglow light curves with the collimation angle of the jets. An alternative approach to estimate a limit on the collimation angle uses GRB afterglows without detected prompt-emission counterparts. Here we report on the analysis of a dedicated survey for the search of these orphan afterglows using the Wide Field Imager at the 2.2m MPI/ESO telescope at La Silla, Chile. We monitored ~12 square degrees. i…
Recent observations of M87 and some blazars reveal violent activity in small regions located at relatively large distances from the central engine. Motivated by these considerations, we study the hydrodynamic collimation of a relativistic cooling outflow using a semi-analytical model developed earlier. We first demonstrate that radiative cooling of the shocked outflow layer can lead to a focusing of the outflow and its reconfinement in a region having a very small cross-sectional radius. Such a configuration can produce rapid variability at large distances from the central engine via reflectio…
We present two dimensional cylindrically symmetric hydrodynamic simulations and synthetic emission maps of a stellar wind propagating into an infalling, rotating environment. The resulting outflow morphology, collimation and stability observed in these simulations have relevance to the study of young stellar objects, Herbig-Haro jets and molecular outflows. Our code follows hydrogen gas with molecular, atomic and ionic components tracking the associated time dependent molecular chemistry and ionization dynamics with radiative cooling appropriate for a dense molecular gas. We present tests of t…
There are observational indications that relativistic outflows in AGNs are accelerated over distances that far exceed the scale of the central engine. Examples include the radio galaxy NGC 6251, where knots in the radio jets were inferred to accelerate from ~0.13c at a distance of ~0.53 pc from the galactic nucleus to ~0.42c at r=1.0 pc, and the quasar 3C 345, where the Lorentz factor of the radio knot C7 was deduced to increase from ~5 to >10 as it moved from r=3 pc to r=20 pc. It is argued, using exact semianalytic solutions of the relativistic MHD equations, that this behavior is a signatur…
Using relativistic, axisymmetric, ideal MHD, we examine the outflow from a disk around a compact object, taking into account the baryonic matter, the electron-positron/photon fluid, and the large-scale electromagnetic field. Focussing on the parameter regime appropriate to gamma-ray burst outflows, we demonstrate, through exact self-similar solutions, that the thermal force (which dominates the initial acceleration) and the Lorentz force (which dominates further out and contributes most of the acceleration) can convert up to ~50% of the initial total energy into asymptotic baryon kinetic energ…
We review advances in the theoretical and computational studies of disk winds, jets and outflows including: the connection between accretion and jets, the launch of jets from magnetized disks, the coupled evolution of jets and disks, the interaction of magnetized young stellar objects with their surrounding disks and the relevance to outflows, and finally, the link between jet formation and gravitational collapse. We also address the predictions that the theory makes about jet kinematics, collimation, and rotation, that have recently been confirmed by high spatial and spectral resolution obser…
We demonstrate that ``hot'' MHD outflows from neutron-rich black-hole debris disks can significantly alleviate the baryon-loading problem in gamma-ray burst (GRB) sources. We argue that the neutron-to-proton ratio in disk-fed outflows might be as high as ~30 and show, with the help of an exact semianalytic relativistic-MHD solution, that the neutrons can decouple at a Lorentz factor gamma_d ~ 15 even as the protons continue to accelerate to Lorentz factor ~200 and end up acquiring ~30% of the injected energy. We clarify the crucial role that the magnetic field plays in this process and prove t…
Recent evidence of the phenomenal energetics involved in gamma ray burst events strongly suggests that the progenitor must efficiently convert gravitational binding energy into a moderately collimated outflow, possibly in the form of a Poynting jet. We show that an MHD-instability driven dynamo (IDD) operating in a hot accretion disk is capable of generating energetically adecuate magnetic flux deposition rates above and below a mildly advective accretion disk structure. The dynamo is driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) of a toroidal field in a shear flow and is limited by the bu…
Stationary magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) outflows from a rotating, conducting Keplerian accretion disk threaded by B-field are investigated numerically by time-dependent, axisymmetric (2.5D) simulations using a Godunov-type code. A large class of stationary magneto-centrifugally driven winds are found where matter is accelerated from a thermal speed at the disk to much larger velocity, greater than the fast magnetosonic speed and larger than the escape speed. The flows are approximately spherical outflows with only small collimation within the simulation region. Numerical results are shown to coin…
We present two dimensional hydrodynamic calculations of free expanding supergalactic winds, taking into consideration strong radiative cooling. Our main premise is that supergalactic winds are powered by collections of superstar clusters. Every individual superstar cluster is a source of a high metallicity radiative supersonic outflow (paper I, 2003, ApJ, 590, 791). The interaction of winds from neighboring knots of star formation is shown to lead to a collection of stationary oblique shocks and crossing shocks, able to structure the general outflow into a network of dense and cold, kpc long f…
We present an analytical model for the magnetic flux surfaces for rapidly rotating magnetized young stellar objects which is based on ideal, stationary, axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamics. The resulting cold wind solutions reproduce observed wind velocities of a few hundred \kms$ $ and the outer jet radi us for a collimated jet of several thousand stellar radii. The theory of axisymmetric magnetospheres around rapidly rotating stellar sources is outlined including electric fields due to the rapid rotation. Gravity of the central object is consistently built into this theory. A consistent wind t…
The possibility that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) were not isotropic emissions was devised theoretically as a way to ameliorate the huge energetic budget implied by the standard fireball model for these powerful phenomena. However, the mechanism by which after the quasy-isotropic release of a few $10^{50} $erg yields a collimated ejection of plasma could not be satisfactory explained analytically. The reason being that the collimation of an outflow by its progenitor system depends on a very complex and non-linear dynamics. That has made necessary the use of numerical simulations in order to shed so…
The evolution of an initially stellar dipole type magnetosphere interacting with an accretion disk is investigated numerically using the ideal MHD ZEUS-3D code in the 2D-axisymmetry option. The simulations last several thousands of Keplerian periods of the inner disk. A Keplerian disk is assumed as a boundary condition prescribing a mass inflow into the corona. Additionally, a stellar wind from a rotating central star is prescribed. Our major result is that the initially dipole type field develops into a spherically radial outflow pattern with two main components, a disk wind and a stellar win…
We review here recent numerical results concerning the acceleration and collimation of relativistic outflows from neutron stars, and we discuss their implications for models of magnetars in their hypothesized initial high rotation states. New results with different injection conditions and extending to much larger distance from the central star are also presented and discussed, showing that, only in the case of weakly magnetized winds, collimated outflows are indeed possible. We finally comment on the possibility that newly born magnetars might trigger GRBs, and we show that numerical results …
Axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations have been applied to investigate the interrelation of a central stellar magnetosphere and stellar wind with a surrounding magnetized disk outflow and how the overall formation of a large scale jet is affected. The initial magnetic field distribution applied is a superposition of two components - a stellar dipole and a surrounding disk magnetic field, in both either parallel or anti-parallel alignment. Correspondingly, the mass outflow is launched as stellar wind plus a disk wind. Our simulations evolve from an initial state in hydrostatic equi…
We investigate analytically the effect of an anisotropic distribution of the kinetic energy within a relativistic fireball on the decay of the afterglow emission, focusing on axially symmetric fireballs with a uniform core and a power-law decrease with angle outside the core. The afterglow fall-off steepens after the core becomes fully visible. For observer directions within the core, simple formulae are derived for the afterglow decay after the break, while for off-core observers results are shown graphically. Some criteria for assessing from observations the necessity of an angular structure…
We present new images of the OMC-1 molecular hydrogen outflow, made using long-slit spectroscopy in order to accurately subtract the underlying continuum emission. These images reveal an extremely clumpy, quasi-spherical inner shell that breaks up at larger radii into bow-shocks and trailing wakes in the north-west, as originally described by Allen & Burton (1993); a fainter counter-finger to the south-east is newly discovered in the present data. While the outflow appears to be broadly bipolar, this is probably due to an interaction between an initially spherical wind from the source and a la…
From the small sample of afterglow lightcurves of short duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the decays are rapid, roughly following a power-law in time. It has been assumed that the afterglow emission in short GRBs is collimated in jets in the same way as in long GRBs. An achromatic break in a short GRB afterglow lightcurve would therefore be strong evidence in favour of collimation in short GRBs. We examine the optical lightcurve of the afterglow of the short GRB 050709, the only short GRB where a jet break has been claimed from optical data. We show that (1) the decay follows a single power-la…
This work presents three dimensional, magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of the formation and early evolution of a subgroup of planetary nebulae that exhibit a variety of point-symmetric structures. For bipolar nebulae, the formation of point-symmetric nebular shapes along the inner borders of their opposing lobes and/or collimated outflows or jets internal or external to their cavities, is reproduced by considering a steady misalignment of the magnetic collimation axis with respect to the symmetry axis of the bipolar wind outflow, defined perpendicular to the equatorial density enhancement. E…
The question whether quiescent black hole X-ray binaries are capable of powering relativistic outflows is addressed by means of simultaneous radio/X-ray observations of a nearby system steadily emitting X-rays below 1e-8 times the Eddington luminosity. The robust detection of a radio counterpart suggests that a synchrotron emitting outflow is being powered by this system, even though its degree of collimation remains unknown, and hard to investigate. With the inclusion of the A0620-00 data, the non linear radio/X-ray correlation for hard state black hole X-ray binaries appears to hold down to …
We performed two-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic simulations of supercritical accretion flows around neutron stars (NSs). In contrast with the accretion flows onto black holes (BHs), we find that the shell-shaped high-density regions form around the NSs, since the radiation force is enhanced in the innermost regions. The enhanced radiation force drives strong outflows above and below the disk. The mass-accretion rate onto the NS exceeds the critical rate, $L_{\rm E}/c^2$, with $L_{\rm E}$ being the Eddington luminosity. However it is about $20-30%$ of that onto the BH, under the condition t…
We model the interaction between the wind from a newly formed rapidly rotating magnetar and the surrounding progenitor. In the first few seconds after core collapse the magnetar inflates a bubble of plasma and magnetic fields behind the supernova shock, which expands asymmetrically because of the pinching effect of the toroidal magnetic field, as in PWNe, even if the host star is spherically symmetric. The degree of asymmetry depends on the ratio of the magnetic energy to the total energy in the bubble. We assume that the wind by newly formed magnetars inflating these bubbles is more magnetize…
The theory of magnetically accelerated outflows and jets from accretion disks is reviewed at an introductory level, with special attention to problem areas like the launching conditions of the flow at the disk surface, stability of the magnetic field, and collimation mechanisms. This text will appear in R.A.M.J. Wijers, M.B. Davies and C.A. Tout, eds., Physical processes in Binary Stars, Kluwer Dordrecht, 1996 (NATO ASI series).
Magnetic fields play a crucial role in the physics of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Strong observational evidence indicates that the observed afterglow and most likely the prompt emission arise from synchrotron emission. It is possible that Poynting flux plays an important or even dominant role in the relativistic outflow from the inner engine, but like in other astronomical relativistic jets this suggestion is controversial. Finally, it is likely that magnetic fields larger than $10^{15}$ G occur within GRBs' inner engines and contribute to the acceleration and collimation of the relativistic jets…
We model the interaction between the wind from a newly formed rapidly rotating magnetar and the surrounding supernova shock and host star. The dynamics is modeled using the two-dimensional, axisymmetric thin-shell equations. In the first ~10-100 seconds after core collapse the magnetar inflates a bubble of plasma and magnetic fields behind the supernova shock. The bubble expands asymmetrically because of the pinching effect of the toroidal magnetic field, just as in the analogous problem of the evolution of pulsar wind nebulae. The degree of asymmetry depends on E_mag/E_tot. The correct value …
We present the first general relativistic hydrodynamic models of the launch and evolution of relativistic jets and winds, driven by thermal energy deposition, possibly due to neutrino-antineutrino annihilation, in the close vicinity of black hole-accretion torus systems. The latter are considered to be the remnants of compact object mergers. Our two-dimensional simulations establish the link between such mergers and future observations of short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by the SWIFT satellite. They show that ultrarelativistic outflow with maximum terminal Lorentz factors (Gamma) around 1000 deve…
Gamma-ray bursts are thought to be the outcome of a cataclysmic event leading to a relativistically expanding fireball, in which particles are accelerated at shocks and produce nonthermal radiation. We discuss the theoretical predictions of the fireball shock model and its general agreement with observations. Some of the recent work deals with the collimation of the outflow and its implications for the energe tics, the production of prompt bright flashes at wavelenghts much longer than gamma-rays, the time structure of the afterglow, its dependence on the central engine or progenitor system be…
We present a relativistic-MHD numerical study of axisymmetric, magnetically driven jets with parameters applicable to gamma-ray burst (GRB) flows. We also present analytic expressions for the asymptotic jet shape and other flow parameters that agree very well with the numerical results. All current-carrying outflows exhibit self-collimation and consequent acceleration near the rotation axis, but unconfined outflows lose causal connectivity across the jet and therefore do not collimate or accelerate efficiently in their outer regions. Magnetically accelerated jets confined by an external pressu…
In the seconds after core collapse and explosion, a thermal neutrino-driven wind emerges from the cooling, deleptonizing newly-born neutron star. If the neutron star has a large-scale magnetar-strength surface magnetic field and millisecond rotation period, then the wind is driven primarily by magneto-centrifugal slinging, and only secondarily by neutrino interactions. The strong magnetic field forces the wind to corotate with the stellar surface and the neutron star's rotational energy is efficiently extracted. As the neutron star cools, and the wind becomes increasingly magnetically-dominate…
We present numerical simulations of cold, axisymmetric, magnetically driven relativistic outflows. The outflows are initially sub-Alfvénic and Poynting flux-dominated, with total--to--rest-mass energy flux ratio up to $μ\sim 620$. To study the magnetic acceleration of jets we simulate flows confined within a funnel with rigid wall of prescribed shape, which we take to be $z\propto r^a$ (in cylindrical coordinates, with $a$ ranging from 1 to 2). This allows us to eliminate the numerical dissipative effects induced by a free boundary with an ambient medium. We find that in all cases they converg…
Black holes surrounded by a disk or torus may drive the enigmatic cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Equivalence in poloidal topology to pulsar magnetospheres shows a high incidence of the black hole-luminosity $L_H$ into the surrounding magnetized matter. We argue that this emission is re-radiated into gravitational waves at $L_{GW}\simeq L_H/3$ in frequencies of order 1kHz, winds and, potentially, MeV neutrinos. The total energy budget and input to the GRB from baryon poor jets are expected to be standard in this scenario, consistent with recent analysis of afterglow data. Collimation of …
