The Propagation of Magnetocentrifugally Launched Jets. I.

Abstract

We present simulations of the propagation of magnetized jets. This work differs from previous studies in that the cross-sectional distributions of the jets's state variables are derived from analytical models for magnetocentrifugal launching. The source is a magnetized rotator whose properties are specified as boundary conditions. The jets in these simulations are considerably more complex than the "top-hat" constant density, etc. profiles used in previous work. We find that density and magnetic field stratification (with radius) in the jet leads to new behavior including the separation of an inner jet core from a low density collar. We find this "jet within a jet" structure, along with the magnetic stresses, leads to propagation behaviors not observed in previous simulation studies. Our methodology allows us to compare MHD jets from different types of sources whose properties could ultimately be derived from the behavior of the propagating jets.