The influence of gravitational acceleration on the supernova-driven Parkerinstability

Citation
A. Steinacker et Ya. Shchekinov, The influence of gravitational acceleration on the supernova-driven Parkerinstability, M NOT R AST, 325(1), 2001, pp. 208-220
Citations number
68
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
ISSN journal
00358711 → ACNP
Volume
325
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
208 - 220
Database
ISI
SICI code
0035-8711(20010721)325:1<208:TIOGAO>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Within a framework of 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, we explore the dynamical regimes initiated by a supernova explosion in a magnetized st ratified interstellar medium (ISM). We concentrate on the formation of larg e-scale magnetic structures and outflows connected with the Parker instabil ity. For the sake of simplicity we only show models with a fixed explosion energy corresponding to a single supernova, (SN) occurring in host galaxies with different fixed values of the gravitational acceleration g and differ ent ratios of specific heats. We show that in general, depending on these t wo parameters, three different regimes are possible: a slowly growing Parke r instability on time-scales much longer than the galactic rotation period for small g; the Parker instability growing at roughly the rotation period, which for ratios of specific heats larger than one is accompanied by an ou tflow resulting from the explosion for intermediate g; and a rapidly growin g instability and a strong blow-out flow for large g. By means of numerical simulations and analytical estimates we show that the explosion energy and gravitational acceleration which separate the three regimes scale as Eg(2) similar to constant in the 2D case. We expect that in the 3D case this sca ling law is Eg(3) similar to constant. Our simulations demonstrate furtherm ore that a single SN explosion can lead to the growth of multiple Parker lo ops in the disc and large-scale magnetic field loops in the halo, extending over 2-3 kpc horizontally and up to 3 kpc vertically above the mid-plane o f the disc.