@article{NishikawaMizunoNiemiecetal.2016, author = {Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Mizuno, Yosuke and Niemiec, Jacek and Kobzar, Oleh and Pohl, Martin and Gomez, Jose L. and Dutan, Ioana and Frederiksen, Jacob Trier and Nordlund, Ake and Meli, Athina and Sol, Helene and Hardee, Philip E. and Hartmann, Dieter H.}, title = {Microscopic Processes in Global Relativistic Jets Containing Helical Magnetic Fields}, series = {Galaxies : open access journal}, volume = {4}, journal = {Galaxies : open access journal}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2075-4434}, doi = {10.3390/galaxies4040038}, pages = {9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron-proton (e(-)-p(+)) and electron-positron (e(+/-)) relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of "global" jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the e(-)-p(+) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the e(+/-) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by a kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without helical magnetic field. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.}, language = {en} } @article{MizunoPohlNiemiecetal.2011, author = {Mizuno, Yosuke and Pohl, Martin and Niemiec, Jacek and Zhang, Bing and Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Hardee, Philip E.}, title = {Magnetic-field amplification by turbulence in a relativistic shockpropagating through an inhomogeneous medium}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {726}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/726/2/62}, pages = {11}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We perform two-dimensional relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a mildly relativistic shock propagating through an inhomogeneous medium. We show that the postshock region becomes turbulent owing to preshock density inhomogeneity, and the magnetic field is strongly amplified due to the stretching and folding of field lines in the turbulent velocity field. The amplified magnetic field evolves into a filamentary structure in two-dimensional simulations. The magnetic energy spectrum is flatter than the Kolmogorov spectrum and indicates that a so-called small-scale dynamo is occurring in the postshock region. We also find that the amount of magnetic-field amplification depends on the direction of the mean preshock magnetic field, and the timescale of magnetic-field growth depends on the shock strength.}, language = {en} } @article{MizunoPohlNiemiecetal.2014, author = {Mizuno, Yosuke and Pohl, Martin and Niemiec, Jacek and Zhang, Bing and Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Hardee, Philip E.}, title = {Magnetic field amplification and saturation in turbulence behind a relativistic shock}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {439}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {4}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stu196}, pages = {3490 -- 3503}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We have investigated via 2D relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations the long-term evolution of turbulence created by a relativistic shock propagating through an inhomogeneous medium. In the post-shock region, magnetic field is strongly amplified by turbulent motions triggered by pre-shock density inhomogeneities. Using a long-simulation box we have followed the magnetic field amplification until it is fully developed and saturated. The turbulent velocity is subrelativistic even for a strong shock. Magnetic field amplification is controlled by the turbulent motion and saturation occurs when the magnetic energy is comparable to the turbulent kinetic energy. Magnetic field amplification and saturation depend on the initial strength and direction of the magnetic field in the pre-shock medium, and on the shock strength. If the initial magnetic field is perpendicular to the shock normal, the magnetic field is first compressed at the shock and then can be amplified by turbulent motion in the post-shock region. Saturation occurs when the magnetic energy becomes comparable to the turbulent kinetic energy in the post-shock region. If the initial magnetic field in the pre-shock medium is strong, the post-shock region becomes turbulent but significant field amplification does not occur. If the magnetic energy after shock compression is larger than the turbulent kinetic energy in the post-shock region, significant field amplification does not occur. We discuss possible applications of our results to gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei.}, language = {en} } @misc{NishikawaMizunoNiemiecetal.2016, author = {Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Mizuno, Yosuke and Niemiec, Jacek and Kobzar, Oleh and Pohl, Martin and G{\´o}mez, Jose L. and Duţan, Ioana and Pe'er, Asaf and Frederiksen, Jacob Trier and Nordlund, {\AA}ke and Meli, Athina and Sol, Helene and Hardee, Philip E. and Hartmann, Dieter H.}, title = {Microscopic processes in global relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields}, series = {Galaxies}, journal = {Galaxies}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407604}, pages = {9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron-proton (e(-)-p(+)) and electron-positron (e(+/-)) relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of "global" jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the e(-)-p(+) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the e(+/-) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by a kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without helical magnetic field. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.}, language = {en} } @article{NishikawaMizunoGomezetal.2017, author = {Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Mizuno, Yosuke and Gomez, Jose L. and Dutan, Ioana and Meli, Athina and White, Charley and Niemiec, Jacek and Kobzar, Oleh and Pohl, Martin and Frederiksen, Jacob Trier and Nordlund, Ake and Sol, Helene and Hardee, Philip E. and Hartmann, Dieter H.}, title = {Microscopic Processes in Global Relativistic Jets Containing Helical Magnetic Fields: Dependence on Jet Radius}, series = {Galaxies : open access journal}, volume = {5}, journal = {Galaxies : open access journal}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2075-4434}, doi = {10.3390/galaxies5040058}, pages = {7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In this study, we investigate the interaction of jets with their environment at a microscopic level, which is a key open question in the study of relativistic jets. Using small simulation systems during past research, we initially studied the evolution of both electron-proton and electron-positron relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, by focusing on their interactions with an ambient plasma. Here, using larger jet radii, we have performed simulations of global jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities, such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the mushroom instability (MI). We found that the evolution of global jets strongly depends on the size of the jet radius. For example, phase bunching of jet electrons, in particular in the electron-proton jet, is mixed with a larger jet radius as a result of the more complicated structures of magnetic fields with excited kinetic instabilities. In our simulation, these kinetic instabilities led to new types of instabilities in global jets. In the electron-proton jet simulation, a modified recollimation occurred, and jet electrons were strongly perturbed. In the electron-positron jet simulation, mixed kinetic instabilities occurred early, followed by a turbulence-like structure. Simulations using much larger (and longer) systems are required in order to further thoroughly investigate the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.}, language = {en} } @article{NishikawaMizunoGomezetal.2019, author = {Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Mizuno, Yosuke and Gomez, Jose L. and Duţan, Ioana and Meli, Athina and Niemiec, Jacek and Kobzar, Oleh and Pohl, Martin and Sol, H{\´e}l{\`e}ne and MacDonald, Nicholas and Hartmann, Dieter H.}, title = {Relativistic jet simulations of the weibel instability in the slab model to cylindrical jets with helical magnetic fields}, series = {Galaxies : open access journal}, volume = {7}, journal = {Galaxies : open access journal}, number = {1}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2075-4434}, doi = {10.3390/galaxies7010029}, pages = {20}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The particle-in-cell (PIC) method was developed to investigate microscopic phenomena, and with the advances in computing power, newly developed codes have been used for several fields, such as astrophysical, magnetospheric, and solar plasmas. PIC applications have grown extensively, with large computing powers available on supercomputers such as Pleiades and Blue Waters in the US. For astrophysical plasma research, PIC methods have been utilized for several topics, such as reconnection, pulsar dynamics, non-relativistic shocks, relativistic shocks, and relativistic jets. PIC simulations of relativistic jets have been reviewed with emphasis placed on the physics involved in the simulations. This review summarizes PIC simulations, starting with the Weibel instability in slab models of jets, and then focuses on global jet evolution in helical magnetic field geometry. In particular, we address kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities and mushroom instabilities.}, language = {en} }