Interstellar medium magnetic field in bow shock modelling
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 18 December 2018
Issue publication date: 19 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to demonstrate the impact of interstellar (IS) magnetic field on stellar shocks existence, shape and size in the stellar wind (SW) vs interstellar medium (ISM) numerical models.
Design/methodology/approach
Comparison of hydrodynamics (HD) and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models results with or without ISM magnetic field, its intensity and ISM parameters.
Findings
ISM magnetic field facilitates formation and stabilises bow shocks around all astrophysical objects. ISM magnetic field may also be one of the reasons for a bow shock existence around the Sun.
Practical implications
ISM magnetic field should be implemented in MHD and future kinetic numerical models of the SW interaction with ISM plasma.
Originality/value
This paper presents the results of HD and MHD models of bow shocks and the importance of ISM magnetic field implementation, according to astronomical bow shock observations. The study also presents a review of the most important papers showing the numerical results of bow shock formation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the support from the Institute of Aviation.
Citation
Kotlarz, J., Ratkiewicz, R. and Konior, W. (2018), "Interstellar medium magnetic field in bow shock modelling", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 92 No. 3, pp. 386-389. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-01-2018-0004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited