3D-MHD simulations of the evolution of magnetic fields in FR II radio sources

Abstract

3D-MHD numerical simulations of bipolar, hypersonic, weakly magnetized jets and synthetic synchrotron observations are presented to study the structure and evolution of magnetic fields in FR II radio sources. The magnetic field setup in the jet is initially random. The power of the jets as well as the observational viewing angle are investigated. We find that synthetic polarization maps agree with observations and show that magnetic fields inside the sources are shaped by the jets' backflow. Polarimetry statistics correlates with time, the viewing angle and the jet-to-ambient density contrast. The magnetic structure inside thin elongated sources is more uniform than for ones with fatter cocoons. Jets increase the magnetic energy in cocoons, in proportion to the jet velocity. Both, filaments in synthetic emission maps and 3D magnetic power spectra suggest that turbulence develops in evolved sources.

2 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in the Proceedings of IAU Symposium 275, "Jets at all Scales", Buenos Aires, Argentina, 13-17 September 2010, eds. G.E. Romero, R.A. Sunyaev and T. Belloni