Stability of hydrodynamical relativistic planar jets. I. Linear evolution and saturation of Kelvin-Helmholtz modes

Abstract

The effects of relativistic dynamics and thermodynamics in the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in planar, relativistic jets along the early phases (namely linear and saturation phases) of evolution has been studied by a combination of linear stability analysis and high-resolution numerical simulations for the most unstable first reflection modes in the temporal approach. Three different values of the jet Lorentz factor (5, 10 and 20) and a few different values of specific internal energy of the jet matter (from 0.08 to $60.0 c^2$) have been considered. Figures illustrating the evolution of the perturbations are also shown.