Laboratory disruption of scaled astrophysical outflows by a misaligned magnetic field

Journal
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Revet, G.
•
Khiar, B.
•
Filippov, E.
•
•
Béard, J.
•
•
Cerchez, M.
•
Chen, S. N.
•
Gangolf, T.
•
Higginson, D. P.
•
Mignone, A.
•
•
Ouillé, M.
•
Ryazantsev, S. N.
•
Skobelev, I. Yu.
•
Safronova, M. I.
•
Starodubtsev, M.
•
Vinci, T.
•
Willi, O.
•
Pikuz, S.
•
•
Ciardi, A.
•
Fuchs, J.
DOI
Abstract
The shaping of astrophysical outflows into bright, dense, and collimated jets due to magnetic pressure is here investigated using laboratory experiments. Here we look at the impact on jet collimation of a misalignment between the outflow, as it stems from the source, and the magnetic field. For small misalignments, a magnetic nozzle forms and redirects the outflow in a collimated jet. For growing misalignments, this nozzle becomes increasingly asymmetric, disrupting jet formation. Our results thus suggest outflow/magnetic field misalignment to be a plausible key process regulating jet collimation in a variety of objects from our Sun's outflows to extragalatic jets. Furthermore, they provide a possible interpretation for the observed structuring of astrophysical jets. Jet modulation could be interpreted as the signature of changes over time in the outflow/ambient field angle, and the change in the direction of the jet could be the signature of changes in the direction of the ambient field.
Volume
12
Issue
1
Start page
762
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
2041-1723
Ads BibCode
2021NatCo..12..762R
Rights
open.access
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