Linear analysis of an oscillatory instability of radiative shock waves

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160364· OSTI ID:6524562

Chevalier, R A; Imamura, J N

We present a linear stability analysis of a planar radiative shock with cooling function ..lambda..proportionalT/sup ..cap alpha../. We investigate an oscillatory instability similar to that found in numerical calculations of accretion onto degenerate dwarfs by Langer, Chanmugam, and Shaviv. Our analysis shows that multiple modes of oscillations are unstable for ..cap alpha..< or approx. =0.4 for the fundamental mode and ..cap alpha..< or approx. =0.8 for the first and second overtone modes. The oscillation frequency is 0.3 x/sub s/0/u/sub in/ for the fundamental mode and ranges from 0.6 x/sub s/0/u/sub in/ to 1.0 x/sub s/0/u/sub in/ for the first overtone mode for ..cap alpha.. between -1 and 2, where x/sub s/0 is the results should be applicable both to accretion onto compact objects and to radiative shock waves in the interstellar medium. The instability may explain the inability of the steady state shock wave emission models to reproduce certain observations of old supernova remnants and Herbig-Haro objects.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia
• OSTI ID: 6524562
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 261:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
OSCILLATION MODES
OSCILLATIONS
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION