Rayleigh-Taylor stability of compressible and incompressible radiation-supported surfaces and slabs: Application to QSO clouds

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/155225· OSTI ID:7215223

Mathews, W G; Blumenthal, G R

A new coordinate transformation is developed which greatly simplifies the application of boundary conditions in studies of surface stability. The effect of radiation pressure on Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities is examined for surfaces and slabs in the optically thin (fully compressible treatment) and optically thick (incompressible) limits. The ratio of the wave period to the recombination time has a striking effect on the stability of optically thick structures.In applying these results to QSO emission-line clouds, we find that (1) very optically thin clouds are unstable at their far side (leading edge) but the instability may not grow significantly during the cloud lifetime, (2) clouds which are just optically thick but fully ionized can be stabilized at both surfaces, and (3) optically thick clouds having significant amounts of neutral gas on their leading edges or clouds pushed from the rear by winds or other surface forces are strongly unstable and cannot persist.

• Research Organization: Lick Observatory, Board of Studies in Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz
• OSTI ID: 7215223
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 214:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
INTERFACES
IONIZATION
MECHANICS
PLASMA
PLASMA ACCELERATION
QUASARS
RADIATION PRESSURE
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SURFACES