Rarefaction wave in relativistic steady magnetohydrodynamic flows

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4891441· OSTI ID:22300254

Sapountzis, Konstantinos; Vlahakis, Nektarios ^[1]

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1. Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, 15784 Zografos, Athens (Greece)

We construct and analyze a model of the relativistic steady-state magnetohydrodynamic rarefaction that is induced when a planar symmetric flow (with one ignorable Cartesian coordinate) propagates under a steep drop of the external pressure profile. Using the method of self-similarity, we derive a system of ordinary differential equations that describe the flow dynamics. In the specific limit of an initially homogeneous flow, we also provide analytical results and accurate scaling laws. We consider that limit as a generalization of the previous Newtonian and hydrodynamic solutions already present in the literature. The model includes magnetic field and bulk flow speed having all components, whose role is explored with a parametric study.

• OSTI ID: 22300254
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CARTESIAN COORDINATES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCALING LAWS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SYMMETRY